What is Emotion?

Emotion is a subjective reaction to the events we experience. We are all, to a greater or lesser degree, emotional beings. The information that emotion provides to the brain is recorded in the amygdala, the basic survival center of our body. The emotions we experience are common to most people, such as fear of death or a physical threat, sadness due to the loss of a loved one or any traumatic experience, aggressiveness due to the feeling of attack, or anxiety when feel like we can’t achieve our goals. We also feel emotion when faced with positive experiences, such as falling in love, success or moments of tenderness. A particular characteristic of the emotion is its brevity: we feel fear while we are in danger, but once the danger passes, that fear disappears.

Physiological Impact of Emotions

Emotions generate physiological reactions in the body, such as stress or pleasure, depending on what we have experienced. However, when these emotions are repeated over time, they can create a feeling that, unlike emotion, is longer lasting. If these feelings persist, they end up becoming part of our personality.

We are not slaves to our emotions

It is common to wonder if we are really sad or if we have learned to be sad as a defense mechanism. Are we really fearful, hot-headed, greedy, melancholic, or is it just a strategy we have developed to face life? Our emotions are often so determining that they limit our perception of the world. If we feel insecure, we tend to see ourselves as inferior to others, making it difficult to attract positive experiences into our lives.

The Role of Consciousness in Emotional Control

What separates us from the animal world is consciousness. We are able to stop and ask ourselves why we feel what we feel. We can analyze how our emotions affect our behavior, and if these are limiting us, we can try to change them.