Would The World Be A Better Place If We Lived Like Starfire?

It could be argued that in modern society we’ve grown used to hiding our emotions. Whether it’s in the work place or in a social situation, we may not necessarily say what we feel. This could be because we want to appear strong in the eyes of another, or we don’t want to hurt someone else’s feelings. A comic character who’s never had trouble expressing herself is Starfire, and I believe there’s something to be learned from her approach to life. What would society be like if we could fully express ourselves?

Koriand’r, a Tamaranean Princess, came to Earth looking to escape the clutches of her sister, Blackfire. Tamaraneans express their emotions in all circumstances. The repression of emotion was a foreign concept to Starfire, and it took her a long time to get used to. Even after she’d adjusted to Earth, she found it hard to understand why humans hid what they were feeling.

For Starfire, expressing her emotions is as natural as breathing. Imagine if everyone lived in a similar way. A woman who was feeling depressed could say what was on their mind without the fear of being judged. A man who was trying to fit in with a group could be completely honest. For some, sarcasm may be a natural way of expressing yourself, and it all comes down to the tone of voice.

But there could also be a negative side to saying what was on your mind. If everyone felt things so deeply, then it could lead to a greater sense of sadness. Politeness would be overtaken by brutal honesty and the outcome would vary depending on the situation.

The longer Starfire lived on Earth, the more she realised emotions were a complicated issue for humans. She continued to express her emotions freely and she channelled much of it into empathising with the downtrodden. Her compassion is her greatest strength, and that is the lesson to be learned.

The world would be a better place if we could be more compassionate to the people around us. We don’t have to go around telling everyone what’s on our mind, but we can emphasise with what someone else is going through. This has more relevance than ever in a society where mental health issues have started to be accepted gradually. The more we share our feelings with the people we trust, the happier we’ll become.

The Tamaranean approach to life means respecting the past and living in the moment. No one can predict the future, so all we can do is appreciate what’s in front of us like Starfire does.