Modern motivation techniques promote the benefits of a positive attitude and thinking, labeling sadness as a “problem emotion” that needs to be kept at bay. However, feeling sad is absolutely normal and can do some good, scientists say.  

Research has found how sadness works in the brain and it can result in some important advantages.

Improve social judgments

Social judging is something we do every day. 

People are more likely to make social misjudgments due to biases when they are happy, while people who are in a sad mood reported reduced overall judgmental biases. 

Make your memory work better

People tend to remember more things around them and recollect specific details when in a sad mood, the research found. 

Increase your motivation

Feeling happiness means that people are in a safe, familiar situation. Sadness works like a mild alarm signal, triggering more effort and motivation to deal with challenges. So people who are happier may be less motivated to do something compared to people who have the blues. 

Make you rethink your life

Sadness is an emotion that makes us remember why human beings hold onto each other to survive. As people grow older, the sadness that accompanies separation is what drives people to continuously invest in relationships.

In some cases, it can improve social interactions

Although happiness is known as a trigger of social interactions, sadness can also contribute in some cases. 

Remember to log your daily feelings with the MIA app to get more insights about your health and body.