The Truth about Emotions

When we are born, we instinctively know how to feel and process our emotions through our bodies. It happens automatically. Basic emotions such as sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and joy initially depict certain patterns of physiological events in the body. For example, we will look at the physiological events associated with fear. When fear is activated by an outer event (for example, a loud noise) the following pattern is set in action: a stare with a fixed gaze; individual body hairs stand on end; face is immobilized and sweaty; the rates of breathing and pulse increase; and attention and cognition are amplified (Nathanson, 1992, pp. 92-93). This process does not necessarily happen in sequential order in that all these reactions may occur at one.

While we are growing and developing, we collect memories associated with each activation of emotion. This makes our emotional experiences unique and makes every individual unique. When we let emotions flow to completion, we can integrate added information.

The natural flow of emotion is a healing process. Essentially, we should live in a flow state. We need to accept, acknowledge, and fully experience the physical patterns set in motion by incoming stimulus. We do this by cooperating with the emotional flow and valuing the information communicated and catalyzed. In this way, we can use our minds, bodies, and relationships to help integrate emotional experiences into our overall system. (Siegel, 2012, p. 269). This takes absolute trust in the processes set in motion by Creatrix, or we can look to science to support these claims.

If we look to systems science to help us understand natural processes, we can see ourselves as complex living systems. In Thinking in Systems, Meadow’s writes, “We are complex systems, our own bodies are magnificent examples of integrated, interconnected, self-maintaining complexity” (Meadows, 2008, p. 3). We are systems within larger systems with smaller systems embedded within. Remember these inner systems are integrated, interconnected, and self-maintaining.

Through a look at systems science, we are better able to see our bodies made of self-regulating systems. When we let these systems operate on their own, they not only take care of themselves but they take care of us too. Emotions are natural and made to be felt, processed, and integrated. They are a major part of our spiritual selves. They help us to connect when connection is central to our overall well-being and healthy functioning.

REFERENCES

Greenspan, M. (2003). Healing Through the Dark Emotions. Boulder, CO: Shambala

Publications.

Goldberg, N. (2012). “Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within,” in

Natalie Goldberg. Retrieved from: nataliegoldberg.com/book/writing-down-the-bo

Nathanson, D. (1992). Shame and Pride: affect, sex, and the birth of self. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Navario, M.R. (2018). “Writing Down the Bones, Writing Down the Soul” in Pacifica. Retrieved from: pacificapost.com/writing-down-the-bones-writing-down-the-soul.

Meadows, D. (2008). Thinking in systems: a primer. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing.

Siegel, D. (2012). The Developing Mind. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Stewart, Louis. (1986). Affect and archetype: a contribution to a comprehensive theory of the structure of the psyche. In N. Schwartz-Salant and M. Stein (Eds.), The Body in Analysis (pp. 183-203). Chiron Publications.