Emotions are not the Enemy

Emotions are not the enemy, but they are not the savior either.

They aren’t qualified to be our counsel, and they aren’t mature enough to be our guide. They can be as fleeting as the posts on social media that influence them, yet simultaneously overstay their welcome in all hours of the day. They can show up uninvited and refuse to leave even when they are asked. They rarely read a room as well as they make us believe, yet we often listen to their feedback more than the warm bodies by our sides. They can cloud the truth to the point that we don’t trust anything at all and convince us to live in a world that actually never happens.

But emotions are not the enemy.

They carry the capacity for connection and gift us with the ability to love. They eagerly wait to be called upon in a time of need, and they remain ready to protect us any chance they can get. They will sit with us for as long as we allow, and tirelessly show up when we feel alone. They relentlessly look out for our interests and can tolerate the highest levels of pain. They are present for our most flawed moments and celebrate our instances of excellence. They help us discover the world and enable us to experience the beauty that can be found within it.

But emotions are not the savior.

At their worst, they can convince some that life is not worth living at all; yet at their best, they can convince others that life is worth living for as long it lasts.

No matter where they fall in the ranks of an individual person; emotions are non-negotiable. They require both nurture and discipline yet will never have the capacity to value either. Their job is to remain raw, and pure, and imperfect as the advisor they inhabit discovers the person they were created to become.