Emotions! Life is can be difficult with them or dull without them. They can be the bane of our existence or the spice of our lives. Emotions can get in our way or motivate us towards progress. They can be extremely scarce when we would like to experience them or maddeningly in our face when we would prefer that they be gone. They come unbidden and leave unexpectedly. They can hide or they can betray our innermost and secret feelings.
Emotions are difficult to manage because they are not under conscious control. They spring from the subconscious part of our mind, which is generally a mysterious place. Yet they have profound effects on our physical and mental health.
For years, classifying emotions has been a major subject for research psychologists. Their objective has been to provide a tool for recognizing emotions so that they might be responded to appropriately. However, there is little agreement as to the form this classification should take. One researcher (Parrot, 2001) suggests that the primary emotions are love, joy, surprise, anger, sadness and fear. Parrot goes on to list 25 secondary emotions and over 100 tertiary emotions. Perhaps classifying emotions has only limited advantages because even when we identify an emotion, that does not help modify it.
If there is one emotion that you would prefer to keep over all others, which would it be? If there is one that you would like to never experience again, which would it be?
Emotions! Can't live with ‘em and can't live without ‘em, but they sure add spice to life!
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