by Ainsley Lawrence,
Contributing Author, Conscious Reminder
Image Source: Unsplash
Crying is often seen as a sign of failure or a setback. We mistakenly treat sobs, weeps, and tears as a “breaking point” and try to hide from the world during our most vulnerable moments.
However, crying can be a deeply profound, healing experience too. Shedding tears can give you a sense of catharsis and emotional release when you need it the most. Weeping in response to life’s challenges can even help you connect with those around you and bond over a tough time or traumatic episode.
Crying and Your Health
Crying can be an unpleasant experience if you’re in the wrong environment or are not used to welling up regularly. However, crying in a safe space with plenty of support can actually be good for your health. The health benefits of crying include:
- Improved Eye Health: Tearing up can produce basal tears that protect your eyes and keep them well-lubricated at all times. This can prevent dry eye and reduce symptoms of light sensitivity
- Hormonal Release: When you cry, your body releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids. These hormones naturally ease the pain you are feeling and allow you to cope with the physical and mental strain you are under.
- Emotional Reset: Your body naturally holds on to stress throughout the day. Inevitably, this stress needs to be released. A “good cry” while watching a TV show or film can encourage a cathartic release of emotions and help you release some of the stress you feel.
Crying together can be a particularly profound, healing experience. As children, we learn to cry to get help from those around us. As adults, we mistakenly bottle our emotions and avoid crying in front of others. This is a major misstep, as crying openly is actually a sign of strong adult attachments and confidence — particularly in those who feel as though they are in control of their crying.
Learning to lean into your tears can spark a period of spiritual growth, too. Hypersensitivity is a superpower — not a weakness. Crying in response to great art or a plot line in your favorite show is a sign that you care about the world around you and are invested in all that it has to offer.
Grounding Exercises
Crying with intention is great for your health and spiritual growth. However, openly wailing every time you hear a sad story at work may not be the best approach to crying. Instead, consider building some effective grounding exercises into your weekly routine to benefit from the healing power of tears:
- Daily Affirmations: Affirmations are designed to raise you up and lift your spirits. However, affirmations like “It is ok for me to cry at this moment,” and “I allow my body to show me how I feel” can help break down emotional bottlenecks and open your mind to the idea of crying.
- Breathing Techniques: Breathing techniques can be particularly effective after a good cry. Common techniques like 4-7-8 breathing and box breathing calm your emotions and ensure that you are ready to move forward with greater awareness after shedding some tears.
- Meditation: If you don’t feel like crying, meditation and mindfulness exercises can be a great way to explore emotions safely. Allow your session to be guided by your mind and the thoughts you are experiencing and be patient if you find yourself encountering mental blocks.
It’s important to note that you don’t have to make yourself cry to benefit from the healing power of tears. While crying can release restorative hormones, sometimes you really just need a quiet moment by yourself to better understand your body. If this is the case, consider repeating some healing mantras like:
- “I know I am loved and supported as I move through the day.”
- “I surrender my worries to the Universe.”
- “I release my past and forgive myself.”
- “Everything I need to heal is already within me.”
These mantras can take the place of tears and give you a chance to experience a full range of emotions. They may even elicit tears of joy as you release tension and embrace gratitude in your daily life.
Tears of Joy
Crying out of happiness can be a tad confusing. However, there’s no surer sign of true heartfelt happiness than tears of joy (TOJ). Research published in Frontiers in Psychology even suggests that crying in response to positive emotions indicates “super joy”. The research teams suggest super joy is an “emotional experience in its own right,” and could be a sign of a meaningful “individual religious experience”.
Open your body to experiencing “super joy” and TOJ by attending spiritual events that help raise your mood and inspire your inner self. Religious services and spiritual seminars are deeply cathartic experiences and can help promote TOJ.
Conclusion
Crying is an important emotional response to hardship, joy, confusion, and anger. A good cry releases hormones that reset your emotional state and ease the pain you are feeling. You can even facilitate “healthy” crying by practicing grounding techniques that give you a chance to assess your thoughts and emotions in a safe environment. Just remember that you don’t have to cry to be spiritually healthy. You can still practice powerful mantras and affirmations that encourage self-exploration without requiring a box of Kleenex.
About the Author: Ainsley Lawrence is a freelance writer with an interest in balanced living through education and technology. She loves travelling to beautiful places and is frequently lost in a good book.
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