Is it just me or do you cry at random parts of the movie when no one else is? And everyone looks at you like you’re super weird?

I’ve realized that about myself recently when watching movies. And no one knows how to make people cry like they do at Pixar. Those people really know how to get to ya. It’s almost like they have a formula down or something.

I watched Coco recently and anyone who’ve seen it knows the scene I’m talking about. I won’t spoil it, but it’s that part with the grandmother, right? And the kid, and the song?? I’m tearing up just thinking about it. That’s normal.

Weird people like me actually cried when the aunt accidentally ended up on stage and sang for the first time in a long time. I was balling.

Why? Well, I don’t know. To be honest, I’m writing this to see who out there might also have their emotions out of whack. If not that movie, or show, or book, or real life scenario, was there a moment where you got emotional at different times than everyone else?

We Cry For Beauty

My guess is that we get inspired by beauty. We’re the people who get excited to see people living out to their fullest, to do something that they’re good at and have always wanted to do, but were held back by something else.

In the case of the aunt in Coco, she was a singer, she loved singing, but decided to give it up. You’ll have to watch the movie to understand why, but the moment she finally sang again was so beautiful I literally cried.

I know it sounds like an exaggeration, but it’s true. At first when it happened, I was embarrassed. I got up to use the bathroom so my friends wouldn’t see me crying at an seemingly innocuous part of the movie.

Or maybe I am the only one and I just have overly sensitive tear ducts and should probably get that checked..

Or maybe I’ve been suppressing my emotions for so long that my body is telling me that I need to be more expressive. I need to perform. I need to experience more human emotions.

What Should We Do About It?

First of all, there’s nothing wrong with us. And I’m not just saying that to make myself feel better. But I’m serious. Just because most people react a certain way doesn’t mean every single human is supposed to follow suit.

Human emotions are strange things, something we still don’t completely understand. But we do know that every individual expresses and perceives it differently.

Having that said, I’ll admit that I’ve been bottling up my thoughts and feelings for a while now and it has only left me with anxiety, low self-esteem, and the ability to connect with others on a deeper level.

I’ve recently found my outlets. I’ve learned to be comfortable with vulnerability. I’m seeking discomfort. I’m putting myself out there, reaching out to people, expressing myself. Writing and journaling is also a great tool for me.

When your emotions are out of whack, I encourage you to be honest with yourself. Sit with it. Embrace it. Don’t try to push it away. Don’t listen to those voices that are making fun of you. Don’t think that you have to “stay positive,” or “keep it together” all. The. Time. Let yourself feel whatever you’re feeling. Then have fun with it!

Talk to Someone About It

There’s only so much you can process on your own. Sometimes we need an unbiased, non-judgmental outside perspective on your life to make sense of it.

For that, I encourage you to reach out to a therapist or coach. They provide the safe space for you to fully express everything and give you the tools and strategies for working through them.

Talk to you next time!

Author(s)

  • Victor Ung

    EQ Writer, Speaker, Coach, & Meditation Guide

    Human Up

    For so long, I felt like I've been asleep. My memories seemed to be broken, constantly playing on a loop because I was doing the same thing, over and over again. But the worst part was, it was emotionless. Everyone around me, including the mainstream media in American society, stigmatized emotional and mental health. People wanted to stay positive and above the surface level. No one wanted to dive into the deep, dark ocean, afraid of what we might find. Any time we expressed how we felt, we would be told to "man up," "don't be so sensitive," "don't be a downer," or worse, our trust, credibility, or respect would be lost because we "let our emotions get in the way." So I've been shutting it down this whole time, sleeping. Well, now I'm awake and I now know that our emotions are always going to be there, we can't avoid them. But we can learn how to respond to them. I am here documenting this journey to free myself and my emotions, no matter how "down" they might be. It's time I learn to live with authenticity, not just positivity.