Negative emotions are a part of life, and it's natural to feel sad, angry, or frustrated from time to time. But what happens when we judge our negative emotions and try to suppress them? It turns out that this can backfire and lead to even more negative emotions. In this blog, we'll explore why it's important to lean into negative emotions and make peace with them.

Why Judging Your Feelings Can Backfire

When we judge our feelings, we create resistance, and this resistance can make the negative emotions stronger. For example, if you feel sad, and you judge yourself for feeling sad, you're adding another layer of negativity on top of what you're already feeling. This can make it harder to process and move through the negative emotion.

Additionally, when we judge our feelings, we may try to suppress them, which can lead to a buildup of negative emotions. It's like trying to hold a beach ball underwater – eventually, it will pop up, and the same goes for our emotions. When we try to suppress our negative emotions, they can resurface in unexpected ways, such as physical symptoms or even outbursts of anger.

How to Make Peace with Your Feelings

Making peace with your feelings means accepting them and allowing yourself to feel them without judgment. Here are some tips for making peace with your negative emotions:

  1. Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness can help you become more aware of your emotions without judging them. Try to observe your emotions as if you're an outsider, without getting caught up in the story behind them.

  2. Validate your emotions: It's okay to feel sad, angry, or frustrated. These emotions are a part of life, and they serve a purpose. Validate your emotions by acknowledging them and reminding yourself that it's okay to feel this way.

  3. Express your emotions: Expressing your emotions can help you process them and move through them. This could be through journaling, talking to a friend, or even screaming into a pillow.

  4. Practice self-compassion: Be kind to yourself when you're feeling negative emotions. Treat yourself like you would treat a friend who is going through a tough time.

  5. Seek support: It's okay to ask for help when you're struggling with negative emotions. Reach out to a therapist, counselor, or support group for guidance and support.

Conclusion

Negative emotions are a part of life, and it's important to make peace with them rather than judging or suppressing them. When we lean into negative emotions, we can process them and move through them, which can lead to greater emotional resilience and well-being. Practice mindfulness, validate your emotions, express your emotions, practice self-compassion, and seek support to make peace with your negative emotions. Remember, it's the healthy thing to do.