Emotions - Guide Or Havoc Creator?

“Emotion is often the what we rely upon to carry us across the unfathomable voids of our intelligence”. Bryant. H. McGill.

We all experience emotions whether we want to or not.

While sometimes emotions are overwhelming and seem like an inconvenience and we wonder why we have them, they are actually crucial to survival, communication and problem solving. Emotions are not an inconvenience or nuisance to be rid off or ignored, but really are an essential part of the human experience.

- Emotions are adaptive
- They tell us whether things are going our way
- Serve as an efficient automatic signalling system necessary for survival. - Prepare us for action
- Involve Needs/ Wishes- lead to action
- Gives information about our needs
- Aids in integrating experience- gives meaning, value and direction.

Emotions particularly tell us what is the nature of our relational bonds. They often serve to inform us of whether our relationships are being enhanced, disrupted or are in need of repair.

Emotions also serve by rapidly communicating a person’s needs current state and goals and inclinations to others, also helping others to regulate their behaviour.

Emotions also set up relations themes that become central organisers of relationships. Sadness is about loss, anger is about goal frustration or unfairness, fear is about threat, and jealousy is about perceived displacement or betrayal. Each emotion defines a relationship between a person and other people or between a person and the environment.

Sometimes a relationship is so difficult, traumatic or erosive that it tends to colour our ability to trust our internal state, trust self or others in the world.

Emotions also enhance or hindrer learning

It has been said that the brain is like a Velcro for Negative emotions and Teflon for positive effects. Negative feelings stick. We remember them and their causes because doing so aids our survival.