Your Tears Are Not a Weakness: Why Emotional Sensitivity Is a Strength

Your Tears Are Not a Weakness: Why Emotional Sensitivity Is a Strength

By Andrew Siefers, LPC — My Rooted Soul Counseling, McKinney, TX

In a world that praises composure, productivity, and “holding it together,” many people grow up believing that their tears are a sign of weakness. Maybe you’ve heard messages like:

  • “Don’t be so emotional.”

  • “Toughen up.”

  • “Crying won’t solve anything.”

Yet the truth is this:

Tears are not a sign of fragility—they are evidence of a powerful heart, a responsive mind, and a soul that is awake.

A well-known anecdote shared online attributes to a Harvard neurologist (which might actually be more likely identifiable as Harvard trained Psychologist Daniel Goleman) the idea that people who cry easily often make exceptional leaders—not because they are ruled by their emotions, but because their brains carry a rare advantage: deep emotional intelligence.

Whether or not the quote is perfectly sourced, the principle aligns with a large body of psychological research:
Emotionally attuned people often excel in relationships, leadership, and healing work.

And as Jennie Allen writes in her book Untangle Your Emotions (link below), feeling deeply is part of God’s design for how the heart heals and how humans connect.

Why Crying Is a Sign of Emotional Strength

1. Crying reflects emotional awareness

Those who cry easily tend to be connected to their internal experience. In Untangle Your Emotions, Jennie Allen emphasizes that awareness—not repression—is the first step toward emotional freedom.
Feeling is not a flaw; it’s a form of clarity.

2. Tears help regulate the nervous system

Trauma-informed therapy and interpersonal neurobiology both show that crying activates a parasympathetic calming response. In other words, your body is literally healing while you cry.

3. Sensitivity increases empathy

Leaders who feel deeply often listen deeply. They don’t gloss over pain—whether their own or another’s.
This capacity for empathy is at the core of healthy relationships, ministry, and leadership.

4. Emotions help us discern truth

Jennie Allen writes that emotions are messengers—signals revealing what matters, what hurts, and what needs tending.
They are not always accurate, but they are always meaningful.

5. Emotional expression builds connection

When we allow others to see authentic emotion, trust increases. Vulnerability makes room for healing community, which is a central theme in Allen’s work and a foundational value in Christian counseling.

You’re Not “Too Emotional”—You’re Spiritually and Neurologically Gifted

Your sensitivity is not a liability.
It means:

  • Your heart is open.

  • Your mind is attuned.

  • Your soul is responsive.

  • Your humanity is intact.

Strong people feel.
Strong leaders care.
And strong hearts are not hardened—they are tender enough to be shaped.

As the Psalmist writes:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18).

God does not shame our tears—He meets us in them.

If You Feel Deeply, You’re Not Alone — And You Don’t Need to Apologize for It

At My Rooted Soul Counseling, I help adults (18+) untangle overwhelming emotions, heal from trauma, and reconnect with the God-designed wisdom of the heart.

Using approaches such as EMDR, CBT, attachment theory, and faith-based counseling, we create a space where your emotions are not dismissed—they are understood, honored, and transformed.

If you’re ready to explore healing with a supportive, Christ-centered therapist, I’m here to help.

👉 Learn more or schedule a session:
My Rooted Soul Counseling
https://www.myrootedsoulcounseling.com

Helpful Resources

Copyright & Attribution

Portions of this post reference concepts from:

  • Untangle Your Emotions © Jennie Allen (used for commentary and synthesis).

  • Emotional intelligence research by Daniel Goleman © Daniel Goleman.

  • User-provided text excerpt (public-domain style inspirational quote; attribution unknown).

All rights belong to their respective authors. This post synthesizes ideas for educational purposes and for clients and readers of My Rooted Soul Counseling.

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