SNAPSHOTS IN TIME (Black Fox Magazine):

THE PHENOMENON OF HUMAN EMOTION – PART I

JODI J DE LUCA, PHD

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As human beings, we have the unique capacity of experiencing the past and the future in the present. Our memories and fantasies allow us to view our lives as ‘snapshots’ in time. For example, all of us have heard a particular song on the radio, and wham…. suddenly we are catapulted back to another place and time. This blast from the past is usually accompanied by a vivid constellation of emotions and physiological reactions (e.g., rapid heart beat, sweaty palms, gritting teeth, laughter, tears, excitement, fear), all incredibly occurring as if they were happening today. Now…fast forward to the future, and we can fantasize about the love we have yet to meet, the job of our dreams, or our worst fear realized. This distinctive ability can manifest itself as a magnificent gift or painful curse.

 

For some, a loss can be so intolerable that the painful experience is buried deep into the archives of the mind; sometimes unexpectedly evoked by a particular taste, touch, sound, or smell,… and sometimes never to be retrieved. For others, self-medicating is a temporary fix that serves to numb the pain. However, the emotional band-aiding can result in destructive behaviors.

 

If we could magically obliterate the bad times, heartaches, rejections, losses, embarrassing moments, and other undesirable aspects in our lives, it makes sense that stress, illness, damaged relationships, and violence would greatly diminish.

 

Its tough being human. Yet, for better or for worse, our memories and fantasies represent profound and significant facets of who we are. They guide our behavior on both an unconscious and conscious level. Whether they represent pain or pleasure, we must embrace these snapshots in time and learn to view them as vehicles by which we can obtain a better understanding of ourselves and the way in which we interact with others.

 

Ultimately, it is the acceptance of ‘self’, and recognition of ones strengths and limitations that proliferate successful decision-making, increase strength of character, and improve our overall quality of life.

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De Luca, J. J. (2016). Snapshots In Time: The Phenomenon of Human Emotion - Part I.  Black Fox Literary Magazine. 

     September 20, 2016, from Black Fox Magazine

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FANTASTIC VOYAGE (Black Fox Magazine):

THE PHENOMENON OF HUMAN EMOTION – PART II

JODI J DE LUCA, PHD

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Life within itself is a fantastic voyage. And during this journey of our lives, more often than not we can unexpectedly find ourselves hurled into un-chartered territory, especially where emotions are concerned.

 

Perhaps the fact that we can’t ‘see’ our emotions makes them hard to understand or control. For example, if we have a laceration on our arm, we can see it, feel it, medicate it, and band-aid it. We can gauge the healing time, and protect that area of our body so that further injury or scarring does not occur. Unfortunately, emotions are not as tangible. They seem to reside at the opposite end of the continuum in that they are usually ambiguous, often uncontrollable and unsolicited, and if damaged, the repercussions can last a life time.

 

Emotions significantly govern our lives. Like thieves in the night, they can rob us unexpectedly, leaving us void of laughter or besieged by tears, infused with ecstasy or bludgeoned by pain. Yes, they are even present in our dreams. Just think about it – attraction, revulsion, love, hatred, bravery, fear, embarrassment, confidence, contempt, and remorse – we can experience any one of these emotions at any given time….and, sometimes, all within a twenty-four hour period.

 

So, during this fantastic voyage, imagine yourself embarking on an excursion flight toward love. Yes, the feelings generated by this passionate emotion are often beyond comprehension or explanation. Your energy level appears to be infinite. You look in the mirror, and the reflection staring back at you is void of the usual flaws. Nothing is impossible, and everything is probable. When you are in love, and that love is reciprocated, you feel safe and whole. You belong to someone, and someone belongs to you. Life is nothing less than phenomenal!

 

Conversely, when it’s over and the passion has gone astray, it’s like feeling dead while being alive. The ringing of the cell phone which once set your heart a fire, and served as the “go” button for romance is now replaced with the echoing void of silence. Your flawed reflection in the mirror screams “rejection.” It’s frightening to imagine what your family, friends, and even strangers will think of your failure. Society as a whole doesn’t seem too tolerant of people who can’t keep love.

 

Although the passion of a new love and the agony of loss of love may seemingly reside at opposite ends of a continuum, these polar emotions greatly parallel each other. Perhaps by embracing our pains and our passions we can learn to acquire a better understanding of ourselves, and the fragility and uniqueness of our existence as a whole. It makes sense that if you have felt the magic of love before, you can feel it again. More importantly, if you can experience love again, that’s proof that you have made it through the storm of yet another chapter in the fantastic voyage of your life.

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De Luca, J. J. (2016). Fantastic Voyage: The Phenomenon of Human Emotion - Part II.  Black Fox Literary Magazine. 

    October 17, 2016, from Black Fox Magazine