When we cry, we feel as if our spirits are so broken that it is the weakest anyone can ever see us. You call yourself vulnerable, and you find yourself ashamed of your tears. To bare your emotions out to people who may or may not deserve your tears, you think, opens you up to attack. Sure, you’re sensitive. You’re easily hurt. But, exposing your emotions doesn’t necessarily make you weak.

Here’s what it really means.

Crying helps you meet your emotions head-on. When you purge your emotions of negativity that does not serve in your interest, you show that you aren’t running away from your feelings. You’re not afraid to look at your negative emotions right in the eye. Crying makes it easier to let go. You are emboldened to deal with anything that obstructs your way. You stand your ground.

Shedding your tears helps you find the courage to be yourself. You don’t care about what others think of you. It takes a lot of guts to expose the more vulnerable side of you and not give a damn about what anyone thinks. In a society where displaying any form of emotion is highly discouraged, you challenge the norm, and you emerge stronger than ever before.

You help others feel more comfortable with expressing their own emotions. Crying allows you to free yourself from excess stress and fear, along with the judgement of others. But, you’re not only liberating yourself, you’re liberating others as well. You enable others to express their own emotions, ultimately contributing to a more authentic and genuine society where we speak our minds and don’t give in to passive-aggressive methods. Instead of confining your emotions in a tiny bottle, you show that you are human and are capable of making mistakes and feeling emotion.