Paolo, you often say that emotions are valuable resources for growth and perseverance. Can you explain what you mean by that?

Emotions—those wild, untamed forces that swirl inside us, constantly shifting, pushing, pulling. We live in a world that often tells us to contain them, to tame them, to lock them away as if they're problems to be managed. But here’s the radical truth: emotions are not obstacles. They are resources. Yes, resources—potent, dynamic energy sources that can fuel our journey, drive growth, and keep us moving forward when logic alone would abandon us.

Think about it. Every emotion, even the so-called “negative” ones like fear, anger, or grief, carries with it a kind of power. When you feel fear, it’s your body’s way of heightening your senses, preparing you to navigate the unknown. Anger? It’s a surge of energy, a force that propels you to confront what needs changing, to defend what you care about. Grief, that heavy, consuming pain, is actually a reflection of deep love and connection. It reminds us what matters, what we’re fighting for, and why we're alive in the first place.

What we often forget is that these emotions aren’t meant to be suppressed or avoided. They’re signals, reminders of what makes us human. They are opportunities for introspection and catalysts for action. When I say emotions are resources for growth, I mean they’re the raw materials we can harness to transform ourselves and our lives.

Imagine using your anger to stand up for injustice, to fuel your fight for a cause that means something. Picture fear not as something that paralyzes you, but as an invitation to step into a new version of yourself, more aware, more adaptive. Even joy, that high we feel when we’re in flow, reminds us what lights us up, what kind of work or love or play we’re meant to dive into, fully immersed.

We’re so conditioned to view emotions as distractions from the serious business of life, but really, they’re the essence of life itself. They remind us that we’re alive, not just existing. They’re a call to action, a kick in the gut that says: Pay attention! There’s something here for you to learn, to harness, to grow from.

And when we embrace them—when we stop treating them as inconveniences but as profound sources of information and energy—our whole approach to life shifts. We start to live more authentically, more fully. We become resilient, adaptive, alive. It’s not about controlling your emotions; it’s about partnering with them. Letting them guide you, teach you, and yes, sometimes push you to places you’d never dare go on your own.

So, when I say that emotions are resources for growth, I’m inviting you to lean in, to get curious, to mine the depths of your emotional landscape. There’s gold in there. And the journey of using that gold to keep going, to keep evolving? That’s where life gets real. That’s where the magic happens.