Does showing emotions scare you? It scares me that, for whatever reason, I might show myself up or cry in front of people. I guess it’s a macho thing. Personally, I think I’m afraid of showing the vulnerable, sensitive side to my nature. If there is a particularly emotional scene in a film I might develop moist eyes, but I would never let my wife see me. Also, when it comes to relationships, understanding and controlling your own emotions and what can trigger good and bad emotional responses helps you to tune into what affects your partner’s emotions. Are you making your partner unhappy or depressed because you are cold and indifferent of your partner’s feelings, wants and needs? It seems so many of us hold back showing our true emotional feelings to our partners. Yet the public in general has, for several years now, been willing to show their emotional response to events.
I’ll never forget Princess Diana’s funeral. There was this huge outpouring of collective, public grief. The next day, some sections of the media thought the public reaction was too much and that it was the ‘English way’ to be more restrained.
Apparently, many people think that showing emotion is a sign of weakness and definitely not something to be aired in public.
Just look at the TV programs out there pulling our emotional strings. Shows like ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ portray certain contestants as having an unhappy childhood or they have overcome some deep-seated trauma. Some of these celebrity hopefuls even say that their lives will surely be over if they didn’t get through to the next week’s show. The viewing public sigh or cry, as do the contestants. All this makes great TV. Then there’s reality shows where specially picked members of the general public may have to survive weeks in a jungle environment, or living under one roof together. Every human emotion is on show – fear, anger, joy and tears. These poor souls actually have been chosen from a list of thousands who are pitching for their 15 minutes of fame.
Thinking about it, maybe showing emotion won’t scare me so much if I was on TV!
Howdy Ray,
What an interesting and right on post!
We live in a world where vulnerability is viewed as dangerous or less than appealing and yet we are all in that very situation sooner or later.
I feel our society is sick to the degree that we cannot healthily and openly admit our true feelings and as result we experience emotions of disconnectedness and confusion.
We need each other to survive and it seems kind of strange how many folks act like the rest of us could disappear and everything would be okay.
Good post, mister. I shore do like the way you reveal your humanness!
Thanks, brother!
Barry
Hi Barry, What a great reply. Vunerability is definately viewed by society as weakness and an embarrassment. yet just look at the massive self help industry on both sides of the Atlantic, something does not add up!