Sad Science

Why do we feel sad?

It sounds like a dumb question... We all know what makes us sad (death, failure, conflict, etc.) but what about the scientific reason behind it?

Sadness is one of the seven basic emotions that plays a role in our everyday lives. Scientists have found that it has a much greater effect on us than making us feel blue or bringing us to tears.

“Sadness is the price we pay for our ability to form bonds with one another.”

It’s why breakups are so hard, why it’s difficult to say goodbye at airports, why it’s heart-breaking to watch children go off to college and, most importantly, it’s why the death of a loved one is one of the most painful experiences humans suffer from.

The benefits of being Sad

Sadness Increases Your Motivation
Studies show sadness can be a powerful motivational tool. When you’re happy you tend to want to stay where you are and may not feel as driven to improve because you don’t feel the need to. That’s not the case with sadness.

While you shouldn’t go out of your way to make yourself sad if you are lacking motivation, allowing yourself to embrace the sadness of not being where you want to be in life, whether it’s with your relationships, career, physical health, etc. can motivate you to put in the effort to get to a happier place.
To read more... : https://www.scienceofpeople.com/the-science-of-sadness/

My Dad always tells me, whenever you are sad just know that this is temporary and it shall pass and happiness will follow.
However, I always say that happiness is a state of mind which will pass and sadness will follow. The important thing is to embrace both happiness and sadness with an equal amount of zeal.