3 min read.

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 and build integrity. I’m seeking discomfort. I’m putting myself out there, reaching out to people, expressing myself. Writing and journaling have been great tools 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!

2 Responses

  1. Hello-

    Thanks for sharing this. You seem to suggest that crying means your emotions are out of whack. What do you mean by this? I find crying to be powerful and cathartic and not at all an indicator of something “out of whack”.

    Thanks,

    Erik

    1. Great question, Erik! I agree that crying is powerful. I was just told otherwise. I was told that crying was weak and ‘girly’ and not normal unless in extreme sad situations. I was told that it’s weird to be emotional, especially in scenarios that aren’t supposed to be. I considered my emotions “out of whack” because I would cry when no one else was, or not feel sad when everyone else was crying. But I’m learning and you’re right, the act of crying itself is not an indicator that something is “out of whack.” It’s just my perception of what emotions are and when to show them.

But really, what do you think?