You Are Not Your Emotions, Stop Telling Yourself You Are
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

You Are Not Your Emotions, Stop Telling Yourself You Are

There is bravery in being "soft".

2170
You Are Not Your Emotions, Stop Telling Yourself You Are
Unsplash

I've been an emotional person for about as long as I can remember. For a long time, I thought it was a bad thing. (Admittedly, some days even now, I still think that.) We're all taught that emotionality and sensitivity somehow equate to weakness. That's not really the case, though. Our emotions are what make us human, and they are only one facet of what makes us who we are.

Feelings are a powerful thing. When you're wrapped up in feeling something like sadness or anger or fear, it can be difficult to remember that you are something separate from that feeling, that it doesn't completely define you. But even when we know that it's still very easy to get wrapped up in them and give them more power than they really have.

A lot of people have recommended meditation for people who are easily overwhelmed by their thoughts and emotions. Even if this isn't particularly a struggle for you, meditation is something good to incorporate into your routine so you always have a least ten minutes of "you time" in your day. It's supposed to work wonders for your mental state and help balance out your emotions, which is something that I could definitely use. But I've always said that I can't quiet my mind enough to meditate. I can't just sit there and silence the noise that's going on inside my head.

One of the responses that I've gotten to that has really stuck with me, and I'm constantly trying to implement it into my life (even though I still haven't picked up the habit of meditating). But I was told that it's not necessarily about silencing the noise in your head, it's just about distancing yourself from it. Picture your brain is a river, and all of your thoughts and emotions are the water in it. Those days when you're feeling as though there isn't anything more to you than your anger, anxiety, sadness, or exhaustion, you're standing in the middle of that river trying to keep your footing and not get swept away. The whole point of meditation isn't necessarily to stop the river from flowing, but just to get yourself out of it and sit on the riverbank to catch your breath and distance yourself from the chaos.

Hearing this really changed the game for me. It's a metaphor and a goal that can be used outside the topic of meditation. For someone who tends to feel things as intensely as I do, as someone who is hypersensitive to my own emotions and thoughts, this plan of not trying to give up the feelings or sensitivities that I have, but just learning how to distance myself from them a bit at times was beyond helpful. It's so easy to get caught up and feel like you're drowning in your own depression or anger or nerves, and to remind yourself that just because you're currently standing in the river doesn't mean you have to go under the water is really important.

It's a matter of recognizing that you aren't your sadness. You aren't your anger. You aren't your helplessness. You just happen to have those feelings within you at that moment, but they aren't going to bring you so far down that you won't be able to get back up again. You don't have to empty the river, but you don't have to stay in it, either.

It's important to remember, especially for emotional people, that our emotions don't have as much control over us as we give them credit for. They don't comprise everything about who we are. We can take a step back from them when we need to and there's no shame in that.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

70983
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132544
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments