As we go about our day to day lives, some of us may feel very different things about ourselves and what may be around us. There are times where it feels like everything is going to be alright, but there are also days that we feel extremely down or uncertain for the things that may come, feel anxious that anytime everything may come crashing down, or it may be the fear of losing something. “Exactly what are we supposed to do about them?”, “How can I deal with these feelings?”, or “I don’t want to feel like this anymore”, may come into mind. Regardless of what it may be, it is very important to know that you acknowledge this and understand that whatever you may be feeling is valid, that you are valid – this is called managing your feelings.
Wake Forest University defines feelings as something which emotions come from. Our emotional experiences are where are feelings come from, and it is something that we experience consciously.
According to Bailen et. al. (2018), these feelings may not exactly be a bad thing. It could be a response to the changes or certain situations that are happening around us and that how we feel is possibly a signal that could indicate when something may not be right in our environment. Just like how experiencing fear may help protect us when we feel that we are in danger or how personally, I feel anxious because of the uncertainty the future may bring. Aside from that, it may help others sense that we may need help or support.
When we feel these things, we may feel uncomfortable, out of control or may not know what to do, we question ourselves and feel bad about it. These are some ways that you may manage how you feel.
- Acknowledge and put a name to these feelings. – We may know little about what we are feeling, but by acknowledging and putting a name to these feelings will help us understand what these are. By doing so, it gives us an idea of how to act, how to respond and help us reflect on how to cope with what we feel. It would give us a sense of awareness of our feelings.
Getting to know our feelings helps us find ways to cope with it and gives us a choice of how we can properly respond to them.
- Knowing when to express ourself – Let’s give ourselves time to think of how to express how we feel healthily and be mindful of how to express ourselves. In an article written by Launch center, what we feel are natural, and not expressing them can be dangerous, as our feelings will want to be expressed. Suppressing our feelings may lead to mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression.
Talk to someone you trust or comfortable with sharing, write about those feelings, do things that make you happy, or cry when there is a need to, there is nothing wrong with that. Of course, do these things at your own time where and when you are completely comfortable in doing so.
It may be easy for us to beat ourselves up for what we feel, but these are the things that show us that we are human and it’s completely normal. (Shea, 2021).
- Give yourself time to breathe, take a break and forgive yourself. As we are human, these feelings are unavoidable, and they are also a part of life.
Feelings are not right nor are they wrong, they are real and they are ours. Allow yourself to experience them, whatever we may feel is valid and should be acknowledged.
“Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.”
– Brene Brown
If you’d like one on one mental wellness support, please reach out and we can put you in touch with the right people.
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