Internal and External Emotions (Emotions Part 3 of 4)

            As a follow-up to the last blog, I would like to go into a little more detail about what we causes us to become emotional. In general, we can differentiate emotional reactions to external events from reactions we have to our own internal processes. External emotions are reactions to anything that occurs outside of our own experience, such as being ignored by a friend or dealing with hot weather. These emotions give meaning to the world and allow us to see how these events will affect our well-being.  Being afraid of heights is meant to help us become aware that falling from a high point can hurt us.

            Internal emotions, on the other hand, are reactions to our own thoughts, perceptions, and emotions. With internal emotions, we are often reacting to our own emotions. These internal emotions allow us to change who we are and the goals we have. In their proper form, internal emotions allow us to see how we reacted in a particular situation and grow towards maturity. It is good for us to feel embarrassed if we commit a social faux-pas or to feel satisfied if we share our wealth. These emotions push us to continue to grow.

            However, internal emotions can also be destructive. If I constantly criticize myself for my actions, my fear of making a mistake may actually become so intense that I can no longer function well, thus leading to more mistakes. Feelings of shame are internal emotions that no longer help us to become better people but may actually lead us towards hopelessness and depression. These types of dysfunctional internal emotions are often the root of many types of psychological disorders. The task we have is to differentiate between external and internal emotions, paying particular attention to emotions about ourselves that may no longer be helping us thrive.