Express Your Emotions

      It doesn’t matter where you are, who you are with, or what you are doing.  Sooner or later, someone is going to ask you “How are you?”  It seems it is an evitable situation you will have to face.  However, it seems that “How are you?” has shifted from a point of conversation to a meaningless reflex. If you think about how many times you ask that question every day, you may realize it’s no longer achieving its point.  “How are you?” could open up a can of worms. It could allow for meaningful discussion. It could give you the opportunity to talk about your psyche.  It could do many different things!

     But so often, people respond like robots: “I’m good. How are you?” It becomes a pointless conversation –a mere exchange of wasted words. Instead, we could use it as an opportunity to get to know someone better or to express how we’re really feeling. There are many benefits of being comfortable with expressing your emotions; here are five of them!

Be Free (and Free Others, Too)

     You don’t realize it, but when you stifle your emotions, you stifle your freedom. You should feel free to express yourself at every phase of life. As soon as you allow yourself to be comfortable with your true self and your true feelings, you open up the door for others to be comfortable with you, too.  Oh, so often people will hide behind the guise of not really sharing how they feel or what they’re really thinking.  This facade hinders others from truly getting to know you or you knowing them. 

Tear Down Your Fears

  If you’re afraid of showing your emotions, stand up to them. Tell them that you’re not scared of them. Those feelings may be new and utterly foreign to you, but by confronting them, you’re tearing down the sense of fear.  You might discover a great release of pressure upon yourself if you simply be YOU!  And others will come to know who you really are.  Your relationships with others will become REAL!  Not simply pretending to be someone you’re not!

Be Authentic to Yourself

     So, you need to let others see the real “you”.  This person comes with all of the feelings and emotions you’re experiencing. Be true to that, and don’t let the feelings get in the way. You may feel like your true self is one that doesn’t come with baggage – that would be great, but no one is like that! We all come with our “good” qualities and our “bad”, and in order to honor the authentic “you,” you need to be able to express your emotions openly and honestly and deal with them in the light of day.

Add Flavor to Your Life

     Believe it or not, being more honest and expressive can help you live life more to the full. It allows you to be you and to enjoy who you are more. If you’re stifling your feelings or being ashamed of them, you’re not living life to the fullest. Add flavor to your life by showing who you really are.

Get Closer to Others

     Everyone feels emotions on different levels. No one knows precisely what you’re going through, but people can relate to some degree. When you open up to others, you get closer to them. You can bond over shared emotions, or you can ask them for advice on your situation. Either way, intimacy, and friendship are always enhanced when you’re able to open up more.  When you open your heart and share your feelings with others, you are building a bridge of great strength to support many wonderful relationships in the future.

     The next time someone says, “How are you?” think twice about your answer. Your reflex may be to say you’re good, but maybe if you tell them how you really are (exhausted, over-the-moon, nervous, excited, etc.), you’ll have a more in-depth conversation with them – and you’ll free yourself to be able to talk about how you really feel!

     This may not be easy and it may take time to become comfortable in sharing your feelings because we’re only human!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Sometimes the hardest person to be is YOU!"