Emotions make more sense when I think of them as messengers. My thinking brain (prefrontal cortex) and survival brain (limbic system) interpret the world through my five senses and let ‘me’ know through these ‘emotion messengers’ that there are changes in my environment.
Emotion messengers alert me of dangers or desires, and present them to the conscious me. They provide quick, intuitive feedback that help me prioritize my actions and guide decision making.
When emotions bring me a message of joy or sadness (any feeling actually) they help me communicate my intentions or needs to others. When done skillfully, emotions facilitate empathy and social bonds with the people who populate my life. When I allow negative emotions to drive poor behavior, relationships are damaged or ended.
Emotions are only messengers, I’m responsible for my behavior and how I act after consulting my emotions.
Emotion messengers encourage self-reflection and signal when it's time for me to examine my decisions. They invite me to consider why I feel a certain way and whether my current path aligns with my ethics and beliefs.
When I pay attention to emotion messages and remember that emotion messages do not always fit the facts of the situation, (emotion messages are often wrong) I make better decisions, avoid mistakes, and enjoy better relationships with people.
– Saturday Morning Thoughts From Savannah, Ga
Russell W. Holloway
Counseling Saves Lives
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