A Wistar Institute Photo Exhibit and Emotions

What could be the connection?

A Wistar Institute Exhibit Photograph

Hello,
It's Sunita here.

This picture came across my desk this week. I was immediately drawn to its symmetry and intricate patterns, thinking it was a piece of art, most likely a pencil drawing.

I was wrong.

It's a photograph from an exhibit at the Wistar Institute.

This exhibit is of digital pictures taken through a microscope. The pictures displayed in this exhibit are images that are used for medical research. Imagine what a 3-D image looks like. Well, these are 6-D.

The exquisite picture above is of a human tear drop.

It gives me an entirely new perspective of the act of shedding tears. To think that such magnificent beauty is associated with our eyes tearing up makes me want to weep.

Here's what the photograph's description was in this exhibit CBS Philadelphia local news

It is a blessing to be able to have ready access to the emotions that move us to the point of tears. That is an indication that we are healthy, and can experience the emotions that are part of the human experience.

We do feel better once we've had a cry. It could be in response to any situation- for example when we listen to a piece of music that touches us, or the times when we think of someone we love, or when we grieve for a loss that feels unbearable, or when we hysterically crack up because we found something funny.

As soon as we cry, we feel like we have processed something, and are lighter. Well, that 'something' is our emotion that triggered our eyes to moisten. And to think that tears have actual painkillers in them as well is an absolute added benefit.

Trauma can have a notable impact on how we process emotions.

Repression of emotions is common amongst those who suffer from the effects of trauma. Being able to access appropriate and instinctive emotions in response to situations that would normally trigger an emotional reaction may be impossible due to instant suppression of those emotions. It's through a deeply embedded, complex, and unconscious process that comes into play that this suppression occurs.

This bypass of emotions causes great personal suffering and severe, often irreparable relational damage.

If you have difficulty accessing your emotions, you may not even be aware of it. Many times it's your spouse or loved ones who are constantly complaining about being emotionally starved in their relationship with you.

Take heed and consider seeking professional help.

It can open up a whole new way of living life. Fully and completely with a richer experience of love and connection. Not only with others, but even more importantly, with yourself as well.

Why would you want it any other way?

Actionable Suggestion (AS)

Think back and ask yourself,

When is the last time I cried?
Which emotion triggered me to cry?
How did it make me feel after I cried?

It is a blessing to be able to feel our way through life and to feel life.

Wishing you a week full of human experiences that move you to tears,
Moving forwards,
Sunita

(This piece was previously published on Mar 22, 2019)