Cogito, ergo sum—I think, therefore I am. (René Descartes)
We become what we think. We are what we think. Each statement is rooted in logic. There’s no denying the fact that we’re constantly thinking.
Thoughts are fluid. They come, they go—some barely noticed, others lingering just long enough to spark a new thought. When we obsess, we hold on to certain thoughts and replay them over and over: worry, regret, excitement. And only we hold the power to give them weight and permanence. Thoughts that stay eventually shape and define us.
Today, I’d like to step away from the mind and talk about the heart. I feel, therefore I am. This statement isn’t grounded in logic or reason; it doesn’t try to prove anything.
Feelings are less about understanding and more about experiencing. Feelings are raw, immediate, unfiltered. They don’t require any explanation. They just are. When we feel, we’re not just observing life—we’re living it. Whether it’s joy or sadness, hope or heartbreak, awe or anger, feelings pull us into the present in a way that thought cannot.
Thinking questions. Feeling connects. Thought seeks answers. Feeling seeks meaning. And within meaning, there is richness of purpose. It’s not just about existing; it’s about truly being.
But, does feeling alone define existence? If so, where does that leave those who feel less—or feel differently? What about someone emotionally numb, struggling with mental health? Or someone who doesn’t feel empathy in the way we expect? Are they any less alive? The truth is, existence doesn’t depend on whether we feel deeply or rarely. It’s more complex than that.
Can we even separate thoughts and feelings? Many feelings start in the mind—a memory that makes us cry, a thought that sparks anger, an idea that fills us with hope. Thought shapes feeling, just as feeling shapes thought. They’re tangled together in a way that makes it hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.
Feelings are powerful. They shape how we act, how we connect, and how we experience life. But they’re not always reliable. Learning to control them is important. It’s not about learning to shut them down, but rather learning to guide them in a way that serves us. Anger, if left unchecked, can lead to actions we regret. Joy can blind us to risk. Sadness can trap us in dark places. Feelings are good, but they can mislead us, overwhelm us, and even paralyze us.
Still, feelings are the colour of life. They don’t just help us connect to others—they connect us to ourselves. They remind us that we’re more than just minds in bodies. We’re whole beings—thinking, feeling, experiencing, struggling, and growing.
For those of us born with empathy, who feel the world’s weight as if it’s our own—yes, it can be exhausting. It can hurt. Sometimes it becomes too much. But that same empathy is a superpower. It’s what helps us understand people when no one else does. It’s what drives us to make the world softer, kinder, better.
Rather than saying feelings define existence, we should say feelings enrich existence. Our feelings allow us to leave ripples in the lives of everyone we touch.
To feel deeply is both a blessing and a burden, but it’s always a gift. If we learn to use our feelings well, we will not only live fully, but also light the way for others to do the same
