Feeling multiple emotions and reacting in unexpected ways.

Have you ever laughed and cried at a funeral? Felt sad and yet relief/freedom as a result? Felt hurt and hopeful after a break up? Relief and frustrated about a recent layoff? Fear and attracted to true crime stories? Have you felt disgusted by a person’s acts but feel sadness when they are hurt or you come to understand an unfortunate upbringing? Felt terrified and excited about starting a new venture? Felt grateful and ready yet anxious to re-emerge from the pandemic?

This week I talk about how these moments and these emotions can happen simultaneously at varying degrees. This seeming conflict can invite or even require us to pause. The positive emotions we experience are generally the ones we wish to hold onto and yet the harder ones, those difficult to shake, can help keep us safe by signalling when risk, aversion, danger may be present. We get to choose how we respond and which we lean into first and more deeply. Tune in to learn more about the “emotional bipolarity” phenomenon.

Source:
Seltzer, L. (2011, June, 11). Can you feel two emotions at once?. Psychology Today. 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-the-self/201406/can-you-feel-two-emotions-once