“After great pain, a formal feeling comes ”
— Emily Dickinson
Simplified Meaning:
When a person goes through a very difficult and painful experience, they often feel numb or detached afterward. This feeling is like a protective layer, helping them handle the intense emotions. Imagine someone who has just lost a loved one. At first, they're overwhelmed with sadness and grief. But after some time, they might start to feel blank or robotic, just going through the motions of daily life without really feeling anything. This is because their mind is trying to cope and protect them from being overwhelmed all at once. It's like a safety mechanism that our brains use to help us deal with big feelings. Applying this to life, it's important to understand that it's okay to feel this way after something very painful; it's a normal part of the healing process.