Emotions are fundamental in our life. However, we are often led to consider some emotions more adequate than others: some “positive”, others “negative”; some “right”, others “wrong”. In reality this labeling is incorrect.
All the emotions we feel are important, even sadness: they were fundamental for the evolution of our species and still perform indispensable functions for our survival and quality of life. For example, they provide us with information relating to situations that could be dangerous or harmful to us; they are useful tools for evaluating situations; they can act as signals to understand what we need, like or want; they can suggest to us whether to approach or distance us from a certain situation; or provide us with information on how we are and the energy we have.
They are, therefore, fundamental means for making decisions and making choices that are “right” for us at a specific moment, allowing us to organize our behavior in a manner consistent with what is good for us.
Despite this, however, we often tend to devalue their importance, assuming attitudes that do not allow us to be in contact with some of them. And this is especially true for those we tend to consider “negative” or “unpleasant”. Among these we find sadness.
In relation to the evolution of our species, sadness has played a fundamental role. Sadness can, in fact, be considered a signal that our attachment system has been activated. The attachment system allows us to signal to the other the need we have for his presence in times of difficulty and is the foundation of our most important emotional relationships.