27 Jan Since When Does Crying Mean We’re Weak?
You’ve heard it; I’ve heard it. We’ve all heard it in one form or another: crying is a sign of weakness. This theme is found in movies, television shows and sadly, in everyday life. While children are known for expressing a wide range of emotions, as they age, many are taught that crying is a sign of weakness, of an inability to handle their feelings. In fact, as adults, many people have not only been taught to hold in their tears, but they’ve even begun to pass on that way of thinking to their own children.
But have you ever really stopped to think about how truly backward it is to consider tears a sign of weakness? Many authors, writers, speakers and other influencers have much to say about tears, about what they mean and about our ability to let those tears flow freely. And years of research have been conducted on the subject of tears and crying, and the knowledge we have gained is overwhelmingly conclusive about the following three things: that tears can be sure signs of strength, that they can be sources of better health and that tears and a willingness and freedom to cry are part of a dedication to our own personal well-being. How so? Let’s delve in a bit deeper.
Credit: ACA
Crying means we’re facing up to our feelings.
When we cry in response to feelings of anger, fear, sadness, disappointment or other not-so-pleasant emotions, we are actually taking the brave step of meeting our feelings and emotions head-on. When we can shed tears over situations in life that make us hurt, that make us sad, that make us less than excited about what might lie over the horizon, we are choosing to face those difficult, unpleasant emotions as they come, rather than bottling them up and waiting for them to surface on their own. Facing our feelings head-on helps to keep us in control of them, instead of them controlling us.
Crying means we’re comfortable enough with ourselves to give little credence to what others think of us.
Crying signifies our ability to defy social norms wherein tears should be held back, and if not held back, at least hidden or shed in private. Our ability to be free with our emotions–even in the presence of others–means that we are comfortable enough with ourselves, with who we are and with what we’re feeling–to the point we care little about what others might say about our tears. This open display of vulnerability is very freeing to us, and if others around us aren’t comfortable with our tears, they are entitled to that feeling as well, but it doesn’t mean we have to stifle ourselves or what we’re feeling, and our ability to cry means we accept this fact.
It’s important to note that the comfort we exemplify with our own emotions can create comfort for others with their emotions as well.
Crying actually brings release.
There’s a reason phrases like “a good cry” and “a cleansing cry” are used to describe tears: crying is very useful in bringing about a sense of emotional release. Emotions have a way of making their exits from our minds, from our bodies. When we bottle up those emotions and disallow ourselves to fully feel and experience our feelings of grief and sadness, we are only postponing the inevitable. If we can “cry it out,” we take steps toward releasing our pain over time–and in our own ways. But when we forgo those tears, we begin the countdown to when our emotions and feelings come billowing out of ourselves, apart from our control, and often in unexpected and unpleasant ways. Giving ourselves permission to cry is giving ourselves permission to work through our pain and release it little by little.
Crying can significantly improve our health in several ways.
Crying isn’t just good for us emotionally; it can also greatly improve our physical health in different ways. Tears have anti-bacterial properties and help to lubricate the surfaces of our eyes and keep them from becoming dehydrated and feeling gritty. The most recent research also indicates that crying helps to promote the release of so-called “feel good” hormones called endorphins. These hormones reduce pain and boost pleasure, increasing feelings of well-being. Endorphins are released in response to pain or stress, as well as during activities like eating and exercising, and now we understand that they are also released when we cry, meaning that crying can actually ultimately result in an overall increased “good” feeling afterward.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.