Throughout our lives, we are expected to always be able to handle stress, losses and overall hardships and continue functioning and contributing even though we feel numb, empty inside and can barely get ourselves out of bed in the morning. There are two things that drive our behavior and actions as humans: avoiding pain and seeking pleasure. We go to great lengths to fulfil these desires, even though they may be actually making us feel more pain and unhappiness.
No, it’s not a bad thing to want to be happy all the time, I think that it’s a goal most people strive to achieve, but that, in reality, is not achievable. Sadness, anxiety, insecurities and anger are part of life and being human, but these emotions can keep us from accomplishing goals, being part of relationships and having careers. Thus, we have learned to keep these emotions hidden from other people, and, to a certain extent, ourselves.
I’m here to tell you that it’s okay to not be okay all the time. You are not weak or crazy to have moments where everything seems to be falling apart and the only thing you want to do is break down and pull yourself away from people and the world.
In the long run, accepting unwanted feelings will bring you one step closer to getting to a point where you can start to feel normal and stable again. We shouldn’t try to sugar coat our feelings all the time because there are going to be days when we lose it and we are not okay, so why should we try to pretend that we are okay?
Forgive yourself for feeling down, anxious and overall just not being okay. You are only reacting to what the environment and others are throwing at you. Your emotions, good and bad, make you who you are and you shouldn’t feel like you have to water down any of those feelings just to keep your pride and appear perfect to others. Everyone has experienced those feelings, so why not embrace it? The world can handle one day where you aren’t 100%, so find some time to let yourself be down and pick yourself up the next day. You will be surprised how strong you feel from having accepted and embraced your own feelings.
