Tampere IAS Fellow Tahani Aldahdouh
A Palestinian-Finnish Postdoctoral Researcher, passionate about exploring questions of professional development in higher education and critically examining the relevance of established theories in diverse, often overlooked contexts within global academic systems. Inspired by the verse, “I will not cease until I reach,” the Quran, Surah the Cave (18:60).
The Upside of Down: How Negative Emotions Shaped My Personal Growth
In a world that often values happiness above all else, we’re constantly measuring the quality of our lives by how much joy they bring us. But life doesn’t always work that way. Sure, there’s plenty of research showing how positive emotions lead to productivity, well-being, and satisfaction (see for example, Dreer 2024). But the truth is, life isn’t designed for us to be happy all the time. Perpetual happiness is unrealistic. Every one of us goes through moments of sadness, disappointment, and anger. These emotions are not only natural; they’re essential parts of being human.
But how do we deal with these negative emotions? How do we handle feelings like sadness and anger?
For me, winter 2023/2024 was a dark time—not just because it was the middle of a long Finnish winter, but because of the brutal genocide happening in Gaza-Palestine, my home country. I was overwhelmed with anger and sadness. Anxiety was my constant companion. I couldn’t tear myself away from the heartbreaking news, all while frantically trying to reach my family. The helplessness of being thousands of miles away, merely “watching” from a distance, was unbearable. Some of my family members and colleagues were lost, people were starving, struggling to survive, fleeing from one place to another—it was horrific.
Yet, during all this chaos, I witnessed something worth stopping for: resilience. Despite the devastation, people in Gaza were finding ways to carry on. With minimal electricity, powered by makeshift solar panels, they were building initiatives to keep education alive. I watched as teachers gathered children in tents to teach, university professors held online courses, and students defended their theses amid the ruins. It made me question: How can people under such extreme conditions keep going? How can they still teach and learn?
Here I was, living in peace with all the resources I needed, but feeling stuck; paralyzed by my anger and sadness. Yet, I had this deep desire to do something, to make a difference. This mix of emotions led me to reflect on the meaning of resilience: What constitutes resilience in the genocide context?
Since my research focuses on professional development in fragile, conflict-affected areas, I decided to dig deeper into resilience in higher education during times of war. That has now become the core of my work at the Tampere Institute for Advanced Study.
So, can negative emotions actually contribute to positive outcomes? What does science say about that?
One of the most interesting research on this topic comes from Pekrun (2024), who has spent decades exploring not only achievement emotions but also various types of human emotions. He argues that both positive and negative emotions can either motivate or demotivate us, depending on the circumstances. In other words, positive emotions don’t always lead to positive outcomes, and negative emotions don’t always lead to negative ones.
Take anger, for example. A series of studies conducted by Lench et al. (2024) found that anger can be a powerful motivator in challenging situations. It can increase persistence, effort, and strategic thinking, ultimately helping people achieve their goals.
Sadness, too, has its benefits. A recent review by Tobore (2023) highlighted how sadness plays a critical role in post-traumatic growth. It can lead to stronger relationships, personal growth, and even spiritual development. Sadness also sharpens our judgment, helps us conserve energy, and fosters creativity and resilience. For me, sadness feels like a moment of silence amid the noise of life; a pause that lets us reflect, reframe, and gain new perspectives.
In the end, it’s not about promoting sadness or anger. It’s about recognizing that these emotions have value. They’re part of the full spectrum of human experience, and they play a crucial role in helping us grow, adapt, and ultimately, thrive.
References
Dreer, B. (2024). Teachers’ well-being and job satisfaction: the important role of positive emotions in the workplace, Educational Studies, 50:1, 61-77.
Pekrun, R. (2024). Control-Value Theory: From Achievement Emotion to a General Theory of Human Emotions. Educational Psychology Review 36, 83.
Lench, H. C., Reed, N. T., George, T., Kaiser, K. A., & North, S. G. (2024). Anger has benefits for attaining goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 126(4), 587–602.
Tobore, T. O. (2023). On the beauty of sadness: it’s okay to say, I am sad, thank you. Communicative & Integrative Biology, 16(1), 2211424.