Let’s talk about emotions.
Google defines emotion as a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one’s circumstances, mood, or relationships with others. There are various types of emotions that cause us to feel many different ways. Emotions are usually triggered by an outside stimulus. An emotion is synonymous to and interchangeable with a feeling. Our emotions are considered by some to be a call to action, an indicator that something needs to be done or that something has happened. Some believe that your emotions are the protector of our Spirit. How we feel about a situation is an indicator to our Spirit of what we need from God at the time. In times of sadness, God sends us comfort. In times of anxiety, He extends His peace.
If we take a moment and search the bible for the word “emotion,” what we find are a number of instances where an emotion (most often anger) is aroused, stirred, or provoked. Why does that matter? In my opinion, this is biblical proof that we have the ability to control our emotions. How? If an outside stimulus “triggers” an emotion, with the right help, that same stimulus overtime, could trigger a different emotion, or cease to be a trigger at all. Yes, some emotions can be harder to control than others, but they can be controlled. Based on the definition of emotion, our life experiences play a major part in our emotional makeup. Traumatic situations can cause us to subconsciously react to similar occurrences negatively, and oftentimes lead us to“OVERreact”. A pattern of behavior in our significant other that led to a discovery of them cheating can cause a person to be suspicious of a new partner regardless of how faithful that person has been.
It can be reasonably assumed that our emotions originate in our minds, and will dictate our physical reactions to a situation. Those reactions might be verbal responses during a conversation, physically leaving an uncomfortable setting, or placing your hands in front of your face in order to block a person from trying to hit you. The remarkable thing is all of the back channel processing that happens in a matter of moments from stimulus to reaction.
Have you ever jumped back when a relative caught you off guard to hug you? Of course you quickly apologize because you weren’t sure why you flinched instead of embracing them. Chances are, it was something about the way they moved toward you that triggered something in your subconscious to feel fearful versus a warm and welcoming sensation. This is a pretty common thing that happens to everyone every now and then, but what if this was your response every time? Would you consider getting professional help to try and get to the bottom of why a simple hug from a loved one causes you anxiety or fear? What if you find yourself overwhelmed with, consumed in, or controlled by anger, sadness, or an irrational fear?
If we go back to the definition of emotion, we must pay close attention to the beginning. It states that an emotion is a natural instinctive state of mind. Instinctive means relating to or prompted by instinct, apparently unconscious or automatic. One would think this means your emotions can’t be controlled, but that is not the case. Our life experiences are stored in our minds, and the culmination of those experiences shape how we react to similar circumstances. If you were bitten by a dog as a child, you might have a fear of dogs as an adult. That is perfectly rational to most people. However, if your fears are so bad, you are afraid to walk down the street, there is most likely something else going on. Seeking help often times can help you get to the bottom of why you feel the way you do. It can teach you how to better communicate with others in regards to how you feel. Most of all it can provide you with tools to work through irrational feelings about everyday life.
You see, emotions in and of themselves are not the problem, neither are reactions to said emotions. The problem arises when our emotions take over our lives. We can be proactive by asking a few basic questions:
Have your feelings or emotions begun to lead your life? For example, have you started to make decisions based on how you feel rather than realistic and sound reasoning?
Ask yourself, how long have I been feeling this way? Sometimes this is easy because it was triggered by a life event (i.e. feeling sad weeks after losing a loved one). If you feel like it’s been an extended period of time, and difficult to pinpoint any particular inciting event, there may be something to explore with a professional.
Have your feelings caused you to do or say things outside of our normal character? Are you normally very outgoing and social, and now find yourself dreading even the smallest interactions with close friends?
Are you experiencing a wide range of emotions over a short period of time?
When working towards achieving mental stability we should keep these things in mind in regard to our emotions:
Emotions are feelings about reality, not necessarily reality.
Emotions are instinctive and rooted in our life experience,
Feelings should be acknowledged, analyzed, and managed.
Emotions are NEVER wrong or right.
Emotions are merely how you feel, NOT who you are.
Your answers to these questions are not an indication of whether or not you are suffering with mental illness. Needing to talk to a professional about finding coping skills to deal with tragic situations, or help manage your feelings in a productive way is something mentally stable people often need. Accepting and Understanding your emotions is the first step to learning to control them.
See our resources link for places and professionals that can help you navigate this process.
Also, see what the bible says regarding emotions. Find links to bible plans from the www.bible.com app.
