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Access to the "Science, Opportunities & Spaces" (SOS) blog is free. Make your next cry a good one with weekly features covering a wide range of topics, from why and when we should cry, to where and how to do it mindfully. Signing up is easy – just provide your name and email address below.
Blog Topics: Why and When to Cry
The Science of Tears
Crying is the very first thing we do when we’re born, and emotional tears are the very last excretory process to stop working. As a critical mechanism to restore homeostasis in the nervous system, emotional tears cannot be disabled. It’s even theorized that they serve as a signal to others that care is needed, in cases when we may need it. SOS features interviews with researchers and specialists who help you understand the science of tears.
Signs and Signals
It's clear that your body needs to cry when you tear up automatically. But are you on the lookout for other signals? Feelings of stress, overwhelm or even numbness can be a strong sign that a return to homeostasis is needed. Behaviors that reflect frustration and anger are also excellent prompts to step away and have a good cry. SOS highlights signs and signals that can point to need for quiet time and return to balance.
Grief and Mourning
The willingness to cry signals a willingness to feel. Whether due to profound grief or painful mourning, we can have difficulty with emotional vulnerability or otherwise feel reticent to feel our feelings. Believe it or not, emotional tears can actually expedite healing and the transition into more positive feelings. The Crying Space is committed to helping shift beliefs that limit potential for this transformation. SOSÂ is there to support and validate your grief and mourning process.
Tears are Teachers
Imagine: As you create space to feel and release emotional tears, you'll establish a dialogue with your body’s intelligence about what matters most to you. The time you spend with emotional tears can and will shed light on your most intimate wants and needs when it comes to your decisions, communications and relationships. Your tears will act as guideposts for your future and shed light on your values as a person. SOS explores the depth of insight available through connection with emotional tears.
Blog Topics: Where and How to Cry Mindfully
Crying Spaces
Crying is no different from other forms of waste elimination when it comes to a desire for privacy. It's not at all uncommon to hear a crier apologize for their tears when they happen to be shed in public. Having a space to cry is a good first step to ensuring that inconvenience never results in missed opportunity for a good cry. We'll share ideas about good crying spaces and work actively to create new ones!
Planning for Inconvenience
It's not always convenient to our schedules when tears come, or the need to cry becomes evident. But since when does the biology work on our schedules? Lord knows, we've all had to make an unplanned "pit stop" to urinate. Urgent tears are really no different, but the social implications of tears can make crying feel very inconvenient. That's why we explore and promote crying spaces. SOS provides proactive thinking to prepare you for a good cry in moments when spaces may be limited.
Crier Profiles
Everyone has a different perspective and level of comfort when it comes to crying! Whether your motto is "no use crying over spilt milk" or "cry me a river," it's helpful to know what kind of crier you are. You can use information about when and why you cry for self-awareness, and to more effectively target the right tools and resources when its time for your next good cry.
Common Pitfalls
Sometimes, crying can accompany unhelpful behaviors and excessive mental activity. This can actually create more of the material your body is working to evacuate! The Crying Space explores the pitfalls that may be getting in the way of your good cry, and helps criers use mindfulness to create a more constructive crying experience.
Tips & Techniques
With the science in mind, there are best practices to consider when you're crying. A series of "do's" and "don'ts" to use if your goal is to move through undesirable feelings without creating undue stress for yourself (or others)! With mindfulness techniques, you can quickly and effectively release feelings that can keep you feeling stuck or feeling badly. Say goodbye to puffy eyes and blood pressure headaches from endless sobs! SOS features shortcuts and exercises that help you move into – and out of – a good cry.
House Rules
You agreed to share a living space, but that doesn't necessarily mean you want to share emotional spaces! And yet, typical roommate dialogue may prioritize responsibilities surrounding chores and personal items long before the topic of emotional boundaries comes up. Don't fret — we'll share approaches to plan for crying, just like other "intimate" moments your roommate knows to respect.
Family Privacy
Family time is incredibly rewarding... and yet sometimes you need a BREAK. And never is this more true than when you're at a "breaking point!" It's a good idea to have family dialogues about scenarios that require personal space and personal time, and an action plan for what to do when one arises! We'll help you approach family conversations about personal tears and healthy family practices for crying space!
Crying with Children
Some of our most formative habits begin in our earliest years, and behavior and attitudes about emotional tears are no exception. When a child's learning includes information about why we cry, healthy crying behaviors can be cultivated and emotional intelligence can be promoted and supported. Let's cultivate a generation of criers who know how and when to cry, so that feelings can be processed and resolved!
