Your feelings are valid! This may seem obvious, but it's something that a lot of people have yet to learn.

This is something that I have struggled with for a long time. I'm what a lot of people might call "sensitive." I feel very deeply and very often. My feelings and emotions can be unpredictable, and at times feel unwarranted or irrational. I've gone through some pretty rough patches recently, and I got into the habit of telling myself that I am crazy. That I shouldn't be feeling what I'm feeling, and it's my fault. After struggling with this for a long time, I think it's safe to say that this makes everything SO much worse. Not only was I dealing with the issues at hand, the constant reminders about how crazy I am had quickly depleted my self-worth and did a lot of damage to my mental health.

After receiving support from other people and gaining insight about myself, I have started to learn that my feelings are valid. They are! I can't help what I feel, and I shouldn't try to. It was a big step for me to convince myself that I'm not crazy, and it was all because of one realization: I am not alone. I'm not alone, and neither are you. The feelings you have are normal, and you shouldn't get down on yourself for having them.

So, think about this the next time you feel upset and think that you shouldn't. Or the next time you feel jealous, and it makes you feel crazy. Or heck, even if you think you should be feeling something and you don't. It's OK, and it's normal! Don't EVER let someone make you feel bad about how you feel. You can't help it and you don't have to.

I still have a lot of work to do to get to where I want to be mentally and emotionally. I have a lot of anxieties, and it's going to take time. And that's OK! Nobody's perfect, and I'm working on it. The most important thing, though, is that I know that it's not my fault. I know that my feelings are real and valid. Remembering this makes my goals feel much more achievable because I don't have all the negative self-talk holding me back and making me feel worthless.

I know that this can be a tough concept to grasp for some people. Easier said than done, right? Negative self-talk is a difficult thing to stop. But you won't realize how much of an effect it actually has on you until you do. And if you do struggle with accepting your feeilngs, that's OK and normal too! The important thing is that you're trying.

Say it with me: Your feelings are valid!