Tears…An Aspect of Who We Are

Whew – these times. We are challenged on all fronts whether by the news, our personal struggles or the illness or death in our family and friends. It’s in these times of challenge we must choose who we are and how to respond, again and again.

We are holding ourselves together as best we can and I’d like to gently suggest making the time to let go. To cry. To scream. To stomp your feet. To release excess energy. To talk it out. But what about when you’ve cleared the afternoon space to allow yourself the time to relax and restore and nothing happens. It can be hard to open potential floodgates, unsure of what will happen. I get it. I’m right there.

Maybe you sit and your mind is blank. You have a journal but nothing comes. Empty space.

“I am here, now, and open to what needs to be expressed.” Draw triangles w/breath. Draw circles of various sizes. Let your pen wander and just watch it. Allow whatever is happening to be ok. Sway your body to the music. Meander through the trees. Be gentle, soften and crawl into a cozy blanket and nestle in.

It is a tender time and we all need tenderness in our lives.

Allow the pause. Allow your body to lead the way to release what is ready to go.

May we all feel the warm loving embrace of All that Is.

And now a little (nerdy) pivot for the love of tears …

When you think about it, tears are fascinating—they show up when we’re sad, overwhelmed with joy, connecting heart-to-heart or even when we’ve pushed our bodies to the limit. But what’s really happening when we cry? And why do humans cry at all?

It all starts with the lacrimal glands, tiny almond-shaped structures above your eyes. These glands are always working, producing tears to keep your eyes moist and protected. But when emotions run high, the brain signals these glands to step up production. If the tears overflow, they spill down your cheeks—a visible release of what’s happening inside.

Think of crying as your body’s way of finding balance. When intense emotions like grief, frustration, or joy hit, your nervous system kicks into overdrive. Your amygdala, hypothalamus, and stress hormones like cortisol gear you up for action, making your heart race and your breathing quicken. Crying helps flip the switch, calming your system and bringing you back to center.

Here’s an easy way to picture it: crying is like a thunderstorm. The emotional buildup is the dark clouds and lightning; the tears are the rain that clears the air. Afterward, the parasympathetic nervous system (your “rest and digest” mode) takes over, slowing your heart rate and relaxing your body. That’s why you often feel lighter and more at peace after a good cry.

Interestingly, not all tears are the same. There are basal tears that keep your eyes healthy, reflex tears that flush out irritants (think onions), and emotional tears, which are chemically unique. Emotional tears carry stress hormones and even natural painkillers, acting as a literal release valve for built-up tension.

So why do humans cry emotionally? Unlike animals that shake, run, or vocalize to release stress, humans often bottle things up. Crying helps us process those emotions, offering both physical and social benefits. Tears signal vulnerability, which can deepen connections and elicit empathy. They’re hard to fake and often seen as genuine, strengthening trust and relationships.

If you’ve ever felt hesitant to cry, remember this: tears aren’t a sign of weakness—they’re a reset button, a stress reliever, and a way to connect with others. They’re uniquely human and beautifully necessary.

So, let them flow. Your body knows what it’s doing. Love the tears.

This is a post from my Substack site. If you’d like to read my weekly reflections, do check it out. You may subscribe for free to receive new posts directly to you inbox (each Sunday). Suzanne’s Substack - Staying Wild, Being Free.