And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. (KJV)

Acts 26:24

Here’s my latest idea for a voicemail announcement:

“Sorry I missed you. I am temporarily out of my mind.
I’ll get back to you when I return.”

Or how about this, for an auto email reply:

“I am currently beside myself.
One or both of us will reply eventually.”

You ever feel this way? Like there’s so MUCH going on inside that you feel like you’re going to burst?

Ancient Romans and Greeks came up with the saying “beside yourself” to describe being so filled with emotion (good or bad) that you metaphysically stepped outside of your rational mind and spawned a second version of yourself.

That’s what Festus, the current Governor over the region, thought of Paul, when Paul described his wild vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus. It was enough to convince Festus that Paul was out of his mind.

Paul clearly didn’t think so. But I mean, he WAS exuberant and animated. He was passionately saying outrageous things. There were clearly some big emotions going on. That kind of behavior can make you look and feel a bit over-the-top.

I totally get that. I’ve felt that way about myself.

Sometimes my emotions seem to have a mind of their own. I’ll say something out of character, with too much excitement or anger or anxiety, and I’ll think, “Who is this guy?” It’s like my logical mind is looking at my overzealous feelings and seeing a stranger.

Ever felt like that, where your emotions almost feel like they’re running wild?

Take a deep breath. It’s only natural.

In our brains, the limbic system, also known as the mammalian brain, is specifically in place to deal with strong emotions. When you find yourself being over-exuberant, or overly pessimistic, or excessively distraught, it doesn’t mean you’ve morphed into something unnatural.

You may feel a little out of control, but truth is, you’re an emotional being, and this is simply part of being human. You may feel beside yourself with emotions like joy/fear/sadness/whatever, but there’s plenty of room for them.

Brains are stretchy. They can accommodate all kinds of feelings. And the more you practice processing your emotions, the better equipped your brain becomes.

(Remember, talking to a therapist is highly recommended. It’s a wonderful way to sort through your feelings.)

God made you with a powerful head on your shoulders. It has a large capacity for both reason AND emotion. By allowing them to coexist inside you, even when they seem overwhelming, you can experience the depth and breadth of life. All in one brain, just as God intended.

The next time you’re overcome with emotion, just tell yourself or those around you something like this:

“Hi. I’m currently emoting.
It’s okay. I do this sometimes.”

Have a great week,

Mitch