How To Make "Bad" Feelings Stop

“How do I stop feeling like this?”

I’ve gotten this question a lot this month.

Usually it’s while someone is in deep despair. They’ve experienced a distressing life event and they just want the feeling to stop.

I’m usually met with a blank stare when I answer with: “This is going to suck. It’s going to hurt. You’re going to let yourself feel it anyways.”

Yep, thats’s the secret.

Humans will do anything they can to avoid uncertainty and pain. It’s in our nature.

Unfortunately, stuffing our emotions in or running from them only leads us to more pain.

This is a reminder that when things go wrong they will hurt.

It means your alive.

It means that you care.

It means that you’re paying attention.

The next time things get hard, acknowledge it. Say to yourself “this is hard. I am allowed to react.” Then move on when you’re ready.

If punishing yourself for feeling worked, don’t you think it would’ve worked by now?

Whitney Goodman