I used to believe that feeling ‘negative’ emotions was a sign of weakness. Anger, sadness, fear – these were emotions reserved for villains in movies, not for someone who aspired to be kind and positive. So, I pushed them down, buried them deep, convinced that a life without these dark emotions would be brighter. I would try hard to ignore and avoid my feelings and wonder why I couldn’t sleep at night.
But like everyone else, I experience betrayal, upset, hurt, and every other emotion. Emotions are signals, and maybe that’s why I tried so hard to shut some of them down. I didn’t always want to acknowledge feelings like jealousy or fear.
However, I’ve learned that people with high emotional intelligence can be more adaptable when things inevitably go wrong. That’s why it’s useful to admit: I have feelings! A whole rainbow range of them.
By acknowledging my feelings, I can work on accessing and managing them, leading to a healthier, more balanced emotional life. This is not an easy thing to do, but with practice, I’m getting better.
Recognizing my feelings is sometimes an uncomfortable journey, but it’s one worth taking. As I continue to practice emotional honesty, I find myself growing stronger and more resilient, capable of facing more of whatever life throws my way… even if it’s sometimes through tears.
ACTION: Take one minute today to sit quietly and admit to yourself, “I have feelings.” You don’t need to identify or understand them fully right now. Simply acknowledging their presence is a powerful step towards emotional health.
