Emotions and expansion
It may seem odd to talk about emotions and expansion. But when we look closely at how the two are connected, fascinating patterns can be spotted. We are discovering more and more how our emotional state affects our view on the world. From our biochemical and neurophysical makeup, understanding how these states of feeling influence behaviour and thought leads us ever closer to exploring the broad and fascinating puzzle of what actually is, us.
What is emotion?
Emotion is the expression of strong feelings, manifesting in behaviour, thought and physiological responses. It may come as a result of positive and negative stimuli, directed at ourselves, but is not exclusive to humans, as the same expressions can be found in other living creatures, from plants to animals. Humans, however, have experienced a wider range of emotions due to their greater cognitive ability and perceived intelligence.
We may feel a certain emotion because of the thoughts we have in respect to the situation. You may be walking down the street and encounter a cute puppy in a box, and your thought was Aw, its so cute! - this then triggers the emotion that most people associate with seeing cute things: happiness.
It is important to note that in this example, both components must be present for the emotion to arise: the thought and then the emotion. Emotion is different from feeling sensations such as ouch when you bump into a chair. Emotion, as it is commonly understood, is the physical, mental and behavioural expression, influenced by thought.
How does this relate to expansion?
Expansion is the process of becoming larger, in terms of area, physical size, or generally, in scope. This depends on the context, but when related to the two topics of emotion and behaviour, expansion is the feeling of expanding further beyond our initially limiting perspectives and states of mind.
Take the puppy box example again: as you observe the puppy, you noticed its expressions, how it moves around, what it is doing. You could observe these expressions and how they reflect your thoughts and feeling, and start to learn and understand more. You can “expand” your emotion by using your ability to observe and reflect on the situation, resulting in a richer emotional connection.
For and example in behaviour, expanding would be the process of forming relationships and then engaging in more meaningful conversations with more people. Doing this would help you to gain new perspectives, increase your empathy and understanding, resulting in a more encompassing and favourable outcome.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that emotions and expansion are connected, as our emotions are a critical aspect of understanding our behaviour and thoughts, and as emotion is an indicator for action, expansion refers to the process of broadening our experiences, relationships and understanding. It is an exciting area of study that continues to yield greater insight into the fascinating realm of emotion and behaviour.
