Have you ever cried for no reason? And it’s not even a sobbing-box-of-tissues-worthy cry, just a few tears. Perhaps there is a reason and you just haven’t discovered it yet. Or there really could be no source that wants to claim responsibility for this expression of emotion. But it is an expressed emotion nonetheless. A day or two later, you look back on how you felt and wonder what was wrong with yourself. There was no way you could have been so sad because today you are higher than a kite on a sunny afternoon in July! You can’t stop smiling. Little things make you laugh. No one can do you wrong. You radiate joy, happiness, essentially any positive emotion possible.
Now, imagine a world without emotion.
No anger. No sadness. No joy. No awe. No anticipation. No disappointment. No regret. No loneliness. No optimism.
That exciting apprehension you experience as you finally tell the woman of your dreams you love her and want to spend the rest of your days growing old with her and the joy and contentment she expresses-gone.
The relief, amazement, and love you and your spouse experience when holding your band new baby for the first time-not there.
The pain, heartache, and sorrow you felt when you heard your grandmother passed away- non-existent.
What would the world be like without these emotions? How different would your life be if you made decisions without the influence of emotions? I often take the ability to feel these numerous emotions for granted or some days wish I could go numb and feel nothing at all. But as I continue to think about a world without emotions, I realize how logical, rigid, and sad it would be. I am grateful that I can experience joy, even if that means some days I have to experience sadness. For how can we recognize and find pleasure in true joy without experiencing the depths of despair?
Would you give up all emotions to escape the sadness, the hurt, and the pain? I'd love to hear your thoughts about this topic!
I recall friends and I once had a discussion as to whether or not it was good to consider one's emotions when making a decision. Three of us argued yes (myself included), and another friend argued no. Because that friend and I are philosophers, we naturally spent a good amount of time discussing it. I won't repeat that time here. Basically, I argued that emotions reveal a deep-seated logical statement that your subconscious holds. Ex. You cry when something sad happens because, deep down, you believe that the sad thing should not have happened. We need emotions, because we need to really feel the result of our beliefs. So this is all to say that I support your preference for emotions.
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