Honors College Art & Science of Emotions Fall 2017 (1:20 p.m.) Sadness Journal | Page 33

ness can be a very useful one. Oftentimes we are embarrassed about being sad and go off by ourselves to
hide and cry. Conversely, if we express sadness we are sending out a message for help and those around us
can comfort us and hopefully provide the comfort that we need (Leu).
It takes a tremendous amount of energy to suppress sadness and can burn us out emotionally.
When Riley started crying at school and tried hard to suppress the emotions she was feeling of missing her
former home in Minnesota, that is when all her emotions shut down. She began to feel numb and as a re-
sult started down a road of self-destructive behavior by running away from home. When she decided to
come back home into her parents loving arms and truly express her sad feelings to them she was able to
get the support she really needed.
Not every memory can or should be happy. Learning to balance our positive and negative emo-
tions is what can make us emotionally strong (Esposito). In my experience I have found that ‘putting on
the happy face’ is extremely draining. The few times that I have broken dow n into tears in front of my
friends we bonded in a way I never thought imaginable. Suddenly these friends and acquaintances became
my support group. Although armed with this recent knowledge, there is still a very strong ingrained desire
to keep sad feelings private. Obviously changing this part of my personality will require ongoing effort.
There are a lot of other people who have the same struggle. That is why I am glad that the movie Inside
Out has reached so many young people and their parents. Perhaps there will be a shift in the next genera-
tion to be a little more open with their feelings, and be motivated to reach out for help when they need it.
“ Perhaps there will be a shift in the next generation to be
a little more open with their feelings ,and be motivated to
reach out for help when they need it.”
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