Healthy Emotions

Healthy Emotions are a Choice

What are emotions?

According to Wikipedia, emotions are mental and physiological states associated with a wide variety of feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. describers emotions as affective states of consciousness in which joy, sorrow, fear, hate, or the like, is experienced, as distinguished from cognitive and volitional states of consciousness.

So if a person is conscious (aware) of their emotional state, then wouldn’t emotions be considered a choice. People have a choice to feel happy or sad, and/or love or hate. These emotions are a choice of each individual. If that’s the case for these types of emotions, then why do some people say they are just emotional? Isn’t being emotional a choice also?

I’m not a psychologist, nor am I suggesting that I am. I’m just trying to determine if being an emotional person is a choice or not.

If we can consciously determine right from wrong and good from evil, I believe we can control our emotions. In the majority of instances, it’s up to each individual to chose and control their emotions based on the current situation. For example, we can chose fear at a time of danger, or joy at a time of happiness. Choosing the right emotion is a choice, and leads to healthy emotions.

What is good emotional health?


On the other hand, people who have good emotional health sometimes have emotional problems or mental illness. According to doctors, mental illness often has a physical cause, such as a chemical imbalance in the brain. Stress and problems with family, work or school can sometimes trigger mental illness or make it worse. However, people who are emotionally healthy have learned ways to deal with stress and problems. They know how and when to control their emotions, and when they need to seek help from their doctor or a counselor.

Conclusion: Controlling your emotions

Once again, as we look further into our emotions and our emotional health, we start to understand that they are under our conscious control. It’s up to you to control your emotions and not place blame on the fact that your an emotional person. That is NOT healthy, and WILL NOT work in the most situations. Work on controlling your emotions.

Remember, anything worth while takes work, especially when you understand the need for change. With a conscious effort, your emotions can be controlled.

Tips on dealing with your emotions:

  • Learn to express your feelings in appropriate ways. It’s important to let people close to you know when something is bothering you. Keeping feelings of sadness or anger inside takes extra energy and can cause problems in your relationships and at work or school.
  • Think before you act. Emotions can be powerful. But before you get carried away by your emotions and say or do something you might regret, give yourself time to think.
  • Strive for balance in your life. Make time for things you enjoy. Focus on positive things in your life.
  • Take care of your physical health. Your physical health can affect your emotional health. Take care of your body by exercising regularly, eating healthy meals and getting enough sleep. Don’t abuse drugs or alcohol.

* Tips courtesy of Family Doctor