Crying is a unique emotional response that varies from person to person. There are some of us who are emotional basket cases, crying at some point basically every day. Others are the stoic type, dealing with hurt and sadness in every way possible except shedding a tear. In the same way that crying is a perfectly acceptable response when experiencing grief, the absence of it by no means signifies that someone is not truly hurt.
QUESTIONS TO REFLECT ON:
If you are currently experiencing grief, or when you inevitably do go through the experience down the road, it is important to understand the crying is a very beneficial part of the healing process. The purpose of this article is to explain why this is the case. Here are a few good reasons to let yourself shed a tear when and if you need to do so.
Any strong emotion, such as grief, almost causes a significant buildup of tension and frustration in the mind. While you may tell yourself any number of reasons why suppressing these emotions is the right thing to do, in reality, this does far more harm than good. For many people, tears serve as a physical manifestation of all the hurt and pain they are feeling inside leaving their internal environment. As each teardrop falls, the pressure they have been experiencing slowly begins to subside.
When we are experiencing this type of sadness and pain, what we really want is to feel like our emotions are validated, especially by someone else. This is why allowing yourself to cry in front of someone who loves and cares about you can be so beneficial. By doing this, you are creating an atmosphere of safety and understanding in the presence of someone who can and will validate how you are feeling in a nonjudgmental way.
QUESTIONS TO REFLECT ON:
Thinking
- Why do you think it is weak to cry?
- Are you thinking about all the the things that crying can help with?
- Are you thinking about how you can further develop how to express your emotions?
Talk – New Language
- Are you actively expressing the how you feel?
- Are you continuously telling yourself and reminding yourself to accept your feelings?
Behaviour
- Do you accept your emotions and own up to them fully?
- Do you try and focus on positive behaviours that help you with your emotions?
- Do you continuously learn more about how to understand and express your feelings and emotions ?
Relationships & Contribution
- Do you show your feelings with your loved ones?
- Are you willing to make sure that you always try to accept your emotions so that you can express them to your peers better?
