What You Can Learn From the Romantic Period (Part 2)

"When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion." ~Dale Carnegie

The fascinating period in history known as the Romantic Period is the basis for this three-part blog which examines three “Romantic” principles you can apply to your life to achieve positive change and fulfillment.

Last week, part one gave an overview of the Romantic Period and covered the first principle, Express Yourself. You may catch it here.

And now for principle two…

2. Remember the Importance of Emotions
Romantics such as Beethoven and Schubert placed emphasis on emotion rather than intellect. They explored their minds and FEELINGS and they used art and literature to express their emotions.

While intellect plays an important part in our lives, emotion is also important to us and our relationships. Yet, sometimes we choose to hide our emotions because in many instances, it is what we have been conditioned to do.

When I was 12 years old, my father passed away unexpectedly. Perhaps through being conditioned by society, I thought I was being strong by not CRYING at his funeral.

We are afraid to cry and we view people who cry as weak. We are afraid to hug others because it is too “touchy-feely,” and we sometimes refrain from using the word “love.”

I once worked in an organization where the culture allowed us to express our emotions. We greeted each other with hugs instead of handshakes, the CEO told us he loved us, and it was not unusual for people to express themselves through TEARS. We were encouraged to live our lives with passion and enthusiasm!

This type of work environment allowed us to create strong bonds and made us feel like part of a family. It did not prevent us from maintaining a professional work environment or professional relationships.

Choosing to express your emotion can be as simple as telling your child you love him/her, expressing your genuine appreciation to a co-worker, letting a parent know how grateful you are for his/her love and support, or expressing your passion and enthusiasm for something.

You may also choose to perform a kind deed for someone; sometimes action speaks louder than words.

Expressing your emotion does not mean you have to hug every person on the street; although, this approach may help make the world a better place and has worked well for others. Watch video

In what ways will you choose to express your emotion?