Wisdom Wednesday #10: Expression's Euphoria & Release

Greetings to the tenth edition of Wisdom Wednesday! My name is Anthony Ortega and I'm the IYNJ Elizabeth Town Representative. I’ll be sharing this series with Jaime Paladi and I'll write biweekly. Today I’ll discuss expression as a whole and its beneficial effects for a busy high school student. 

Expression can be defined in a multitude of ways whether it is athletic, artistic, et cetera. Oxford labels expression n., as “things that people say, write, or do in order to show their feelings, opinions, and ideas.” (Oxford Advanced American Dictionary). It is a form to release internal or external struggles. It is also a form of decompressing situations, ideals, or perceptions. Expression is a recultivated art that helps the individual; it is a concept that is often unrecognized or understood. Myriad attends to it in their everyday lives without accounting for it. It is a tremendous yet natural undertaking humans have done since existence. It is the act of revealing yourself to yourself, a purity which lays often disregarded. 

Of course, the term continues to lay ambiguous yet it is subjective. Actions either mentally or physically that spring that emotion of freedom can be often times affiliated with the term.

Great metaphysical weight is cast on the common man and you’re most likely worried about some object whether it be school, family, identity, etcetera. Every individual experiences a great deal of pain daily yet this is exaggerated if the person is stagnant about it. You have, everyone, has, at least a thousand times kept something to themselves and hidden it in the sakes to conceal and cope but it is not healthy; the method. It’s spread across society with societal anecdotes praising ‘never letting anyone see you weak’. As an academic, athletic, volunteer-oriented, etcetera high school student you’re subject to lay most at risk of this way of thinking in hopes of getting through the day. 

When you think about sobbing publicly, you often view the scenario as ugly and unnecessary but the idea of society is crucial to grasp the concept of expression. There can be numerous instances where you wished to attend to something yet were held back by a person or an idea that made you shallow. People as a collective do just that, people often desire to fit in and replicate trends. A major trend within humanity forever has been complaining about one’s day and ridiculing those who actually express themselves. It is a hypocritical and depressing common ground all of us have found ourselves in. Generationally, we’ve been trained to be indifferent and keep all of our mal internal. Consequently, that’s the main cause… in my opinion… of mental breakdowns, one often holds too much content within oneself and thus explodes. As a student taking a multitude of but not limited to rigorous courses, demanding familial responsibilities, clubs, or sports, your prioritization drains you out without realizing it until you unexpectedly always feel burnt out and mentally low.

Expression in any form no matter how often practiced can prevent such a sentiment. Here are some brainstormed methods which I hope can give you ideas:

1. Writing or Journalling: putting your thoughts to parchment can help you process.

2. Singing: releasing pent-up emotions through vocalizing can help you find grounding.

3. Dancing: by moving your body you can clear your mind.

4. Running or related activity: even by going on a light jog you can find a sense of serenity physically & mentally.

5. Crying: releasing all of your emotions can direct you to a mentally safer place. 

That is simply a minuscule list that has helped me and those around me but to reiterate, expression is subjective. Whatever feels right is indeed correct for you whether it be jumping up and down over again for an hour straight, if it grants you peace do it! Expression is a natrual thing for us all thus I urge you to try out some methods whether by searching online, this list, or by asking a friend how they express themselves for it can help you tremendously by liberating your very busy schedule without changing anything, just ten minutes a day can guide you greatly to finding your voice and euphoria. Thank you so much for reading this week’s edition and I wish you love and mind.