Emotional Response

Emotions are central to being human. Each day, we feel and react to our surroundings. These emotions and the way we react to them, together, is what makes us human. When something hurts us we react. That instant reaction is impulsive and fully charged with emotion. But then our brains take over. We think about the event and our reaction and our next action is planned and purposeful. We consider the consequences and outcomes, we factor in the other people, and any possible damage, we think of hurting people, ourselves, our surroundings. We rationalize our emotions, reactions, and decisions. This is what it means to be human, not only to feel but also to rationalize.

Artists may have the best reactions to emotion. An artist takes what they feel and turns it into a beautiful work. A painter uses brushes and paints to craft a piece that can evoke emotion in the viewer. In the same way a dancer portrays an emotion through dance. The audience feels the sorrow or joy in a piece. Artists express themselves through art and people can connect through art. Many people have posted song lyrics to represent how they are feeling, discussed the feelings caused by a painting, or discussed the deeper meaning of a poem. Art is a way for humans to connect and to share how they are feeling.

The way in which we rationalize our emotions often reveals a lot about a person. Emotions come from the heart. They are raw and real. Then the brain takes the emotions of the heart and rationalizes them. Our brain takes desires and helps to determine the appropriate response to them. This is what it means to be human. When someone feels love in their heart it’s their brain that tells them how to show it. Sometimes people ignore their brain and are impulsive and crazy as they follow only their heart. Often this leads only to pain. Our brain helps to control our actions and to be careful. Unfortunately sometimes we allow our brain to control and restrict our heart causing us to miss the opportunity out of fear. This constant give and take between our heart and brain, our emotions and rationalizations is what makes us human.

To some extent society has divided genders by the way they are expected to deal with their emotions. Society has created an environment filled with stereotypes based on emotional response. Women are deemed to react more to emotions. They are allowed to reminisce and become emotional. Men are expected to bury and ignore painful emotions.

As our society starts to dictate the appropriate reactions to emotions we lose part of what it means to be human. In order to achieve our full humanity we must allow ourselves to feel and react. We must express ourselves and connect on an emotional level. Allowing emotions to play a role in our lives separates humans from robots and the ability to rationalize our responses separate us from animals. Emotions and rationalizations together make up what it means to be human.