Emotions Are Signals, Not Problems

"Emotions evolved through natural selection as a way to get humans to avoid things that would threaten their survival and approach things that would serve them. Fear prompts us to defend ourselves. Love motivates us to connect, nurture, and cooperate. Anger arises when something threatens our values or boundaries. In essence, emotions condense our judgment about what's happening around us, driving us to make the "right" decision for survival and adaptation."

"We first experience emotions as physical sensations (e.g., a tightening chest, racing heart, sinking stomach). These physiological changes alert us to an emotion worth paying attention to. They give us important information about our well-being, indicating that we are experiencing a deep reaction to someone or something, and that we need to deal with it. Once you understand how the emotional system operates, including its built-in negativity bias, you can use emotions as your personal navigational system."

Emotions function as informative signals that evolved to promote survival and social cooperation. Fear triggers defensive action, love motivates connection and care, and anger signals threats to values or boundaries. Emotions begin as physiological sensations that indicate significant reactions requiring attention. The limbic system generates rapid alerts before conscious thought, while the neocortex can evaluate accuracy and determine responses. Emotions carry information about safety, values, relationships, and well-being and can be used as an internal navigational system. Emotions include a negativity bias and can produce false alarms, so interpretation and reflection are essential.

Read at Psychology Today