Emotional culture

In our culture, we are expected to control our emotions, and for good reason. To have order, you have to create a standard. “People like us do things like this.”

Yet, at the same time, we know that it is impossible to stop these emotions from happening. I don’t control when I’m hungry, and yet I get hungry. We know sleep is critical to health, well-being, and productivity, but we don’t build the culture around taking naps. Instead, we build around results, not the process.

It makes me curious what would happen if we shifted into outlets for emotions (and impulses) that are seemingly out of control. Emotions are powerful. Everyone experiences them, and yet they are the most difficult to be empathetic about—because, hey, I got feelings, too!