There are many words that have fallen out of use these days. Some should remain. Among them is "catharsis," which means: "the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions." For example, thinking your child is lost and then finding them sleeping behind a tree. There is a burst of emotion quite unlike anything else. In fact, this emotion is so powerful that it can easily transfer to witnesses of the event. Humans love to share, don't you know.
Any good study of emotion will include this area. It's especially powerful when it spans a significant time. The movie, "The Game," highlights this particular emotion very well. In it, a successful businessman has a tragic past (his father committed suicide), and the businessman is now the same age as his father was then. The setup is a game that happens in real life, but you only discover the rules as you are running around town. It was a concept actually attempted years ago, but never caught on (I can imagine it was insanely expensive). Anyway, the story is ridiculous, the game is beyond comprehension, but the emotional impact at the end is enormous. Don't spend your time figuring how it was all done, because you'll go crazy; just enjoy it for the catharsis it provides.
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A cute bunny, in desperate need of the cathartic removal of that silly outfit.
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I think we actively seek catharsis in many areas of life. We go to amusement parks and ride roller coasters to be scared witless and yet be alright. We see horror movies, to scream in terror, then walk out and discuss the finer points of hamburgers. We find ways to build up incredible tension, just so it can be released all at once. We feel better afterward. It's like a deep massage for the brain, or even the spirit. Try it ... you'll like it.
- M
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