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Does the instant feeling of relief of finding your wallet while on a vacation feel better than a lot of situations whereby you gain something....like winning a moderately valued prize, or getting an excellent mark on a course, or getting a pat on the back from an important boss? I know, maybe too hard to say, based on a number of variables involved. But follow me on this thought process, if you would...
I actually believe the relief you feel when something appaently bad ends up being fine, is better than the feeling of happiness you get when you are rewarded or even luck out in a positive way.......for any one of an assortment of good outcomes. However I also believe that relief, even the most appreciated type, though sometimes overwhelming, has a relatively short shelf life. In other words, the initial positive sensation can be intense, but once we realize all is well, most of the time the feeling goes away fairly quickly.....depending of course on the significance. Finding one's wallet is huge, but a few hours later may be forgotten.
I believe this all comes down to the fact that many of us truly treasure what we have and would rather keep status quo (and therefore not lose something near and dear to us) than worry about getting something better. In the end, relief tells me we want normalcy in our lives. We want to be alive and have a fighting chance. And although we may complain about things, we do not want to lose what we have. And when we face a big issue, nothing else seems to matter. We become absorbed with it (think of the anxiety of a temporarily lost child).
Examples of both.....
RELIEF
- losing your wallet or purse, with all your money, credit cards and other personal information, and possibly even your airplane tickets while away on a vacation (heck, losing your wallet or purse while home is nearly as bad)
- when you recover from, or get good news regarding a fairly serious medical situation
- when you spot one of your children after losing sight of them at a crowded beach, even though you only turned your head for a couple of seconds
- when you narrowly avoid a car accident at a high speed
- when you learn that your job is no longer in jeopardy
REWARD/GOOD LUCK
- we win the Super Bowl!
- being selected for a scholarship or getting a promotion
- winning a a good prize (ie. $1000)
- getting a date with a "hot" person, and better yet, hearing them say "I do"
- witnessing the birth of your child!!!
~~~~~~~
For me, both sides of the equation are welcome. But generally I believe the "relief" side is even more welcome, especially for serious matters. And although the relief may subside fairly quickly, when we are in the middle of the situation, our lives are literally put on hold......therefore the importance.
However, one very definite exception for me......if there is a better feeling in life than the birth of a beautiful baby, I just don't know. Probably because it involves an array of feelings and emotions, and to some degree, relief as well. With our 2nd child, in fact there was notable relief involved, because the cord appeared to be wrapped around her little neck......and until that was determined not to be an issue, I was in a major state of fear. Happily, she turned out very fine I might add.
Oh wait......one last thing......if the baby does not like to sleep.....well, lets just say RELIEF is absolutely required, in a hurry!!!
I actually believe the relief you feel when something appaently bad ends up being fine, is better than the feeling of happiness you get when you are rewarded or even luck out in a positive way.......for any one of an assortment of good outcomes. However I also believe that relief, even the most appreciated type, though sometimes overwhelming, has a relatively short shelf life. In other words, the initial positive sensation can be intense, but once we realize all is well, most of the time the feeling goes away fairly quickly.....depending of course on the significance. Finding one's wallet is huge, but a few hours later may be forgotten.
I believe this all comes down to the fact that many of us truly treasure what we have and would rather keep status quo (and therefore not lose something near and dear to us) than worry about getting something better. In the end, relief tells me we want normalcy in our lives. We want to be alive and have a fighting chance. And although we may complain about things, we do not want to lose what we have. And when we face a big issue, nothing else seems to matter. We become absorbed with it (think of the anxiety of a temporarily lost child).
Examples of both.....
RELIEF
- losing your wallet or purse, with all your money, credit cards and other personal information, and possibly even your airplane tickets while away on a vacation (heck, losing your wallet or purse while home is nearly as bad)
- when you recover from, or get good news regarding a fairly serious medical situation
- when you spot one of your children after losing sight of them at a crowded beach, even though you only turned your head for a couple of seconds
- when you narrowly avoid a car accident at a high speed
- when you learn that your job is no longer in jeopardy
REWARD/GOOD LUCK
- we win the Super Bowl!
- being selected for a scholarship or getting a promotion
- winning a a good prize (ie. $1000)
- getting a date with a "hot" person, and better yet, hearing them say "I do"
- witnessing the birth of your child!!!
~~~~~~~
For me, both sides of the equation are welcome. But generally I believe the "relief" side is even more welcome, especially for serious matters. And although the relief may subside fairly quickly, when we are in the middle of the situation, our lives are literally put on hold......therefore the importance.
However, one very definite exception for me......if there is a better feeling in life than the birth of a beautiful baby, I just don't know. Probably because it involves an array of feelings and emotions, and to some degree, relief as well. With our 2nd child, in fact there was notable relief involved, because the cord appeared to be wrapped around her little neck......and until that was determined not to be an issue, I was in a major state of fear. Happily, she turned out very fine I might add.
Oh wait......one last thing......if the baby does not like to sleep.....well, lets just say RELIEF is absolutely required, in a hurry!!!
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