Sitting With Difficult Feelings

WordPress Prompt: What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?

Negative feelings are part of being human. Over time I have learned that sometimes the most helpful thing to do is simply let them sit there for a while and allow them to pass through me. It is ok to feel.

When the intensity settles, I usually try to put the thoughts behind the feelings into perspective. I ask myself how true they really are. Often they are just thoughts that have gathered momentum rather than facts that deserve the power they have been given.

Simple things can help my nervous system settle again. A walk. A shower. A quiet pause. Once my body calms down, my thinking usually becomes clearer and a more balanced view returns.

Self care plays an important role here too. Stopping the negative self talk and choosing to do something kind for myself can gently shift the direction of my thoughts.

I am also aware that it is not always this simple. There have been periods of depression in my life, and when someone is in that darker place it can feel far harder to climb out. In those times the steps are often very small.

Sometimes it is as simple as sitting in the sun with a cup of tea and letting the warmth settle into your skin. Even that small moment of light can bring a little relief and remind you that the feeling will not last forever.