CATHARTIC (adjective)
Of relating to, or producing catharsis.
Hmmmm…
Catharsis
1. Purification or purgation of the emotions (as pity or fear) primarily through art.
2. A purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension.
Example from recent news: Veteran Equity Strategist Expects a ‘Cathartic Upchuck’ in 2022– Bloomberg
(Well, that is an interesting way of using the word..although, money and emotions are very much tied together)
Other synonyms for cathartic:
cleansing, purifying, emotional, affecting, impactful, moving, poignant, stirring, touching
I heard this word on an art podcast last week and realized I didn’t actually know what it meant. Maybe it is because it hasn’t been used very often until the onset of the hottest topic of mental health. Or maybe its because I’m in a bit of a homeschool mom bubble during this chapter of life.
Either way, I am glad to have discovered this word, since I myself frequently engage in catharsis. I like to read good books that make me cry. In fact, some of my very favorite books are the ones that bring me to tears, namely, Little Britches, The Horse and His Boy, and Little Women. I think it very healthy, although my husband questions why I would do such a thing to myself. He would probably rather go on a 20-mile run than read a book that brings him to tears. He is perplexed that I could actually feel better from crying over a good book. For me, it’s just very…
Cathartic
*Definitions are taken from Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. Not every part of the definition is given in this blog, only the major themes.
**Synonyms taken from the Merriam Webster online Thesaurus
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