4 Mindful ways to deal with Difficult Emotions

There are times in our lives where we are faced with difficult emotions like anger, fear, loneliness, pain, and sadness are inevitable. We choose to push it away and distract ourselves, pretend that’s everything is Ok, or snap at those trying to help. But these things don’t make the situation better. So it’s vital to have mindful coping strategies for dealing with difficult emotions. Instead of using avoidance as a way to deal with difficult emotions, try one of these mindful ways to process difficult emotions.

Take a Moment to Think

When we are going through something difficult, we sometimes tend to act impulsively. And sometimes end up doing or saying something we might regret later. So it’s important to pause and think things through, instead of acting on feelings right away.

Acknowledge your Feelings

If something someone did or said upset you, it’s OK to feel that way. No matter what it is your feeling, it is valid. There’s no need to hide it or suppress it. Take a deep breath and sit with your feelings for a moment. Think about why you’re upset and accept it. Ask yourself these questions:

• What’s causing me to feel this way?
• Why don’t I like it, specifically?
• What can I do about it?
• How important is this to me? Will I feel the same way about it tomorrow, in a week, or years from now?
• Despite the negatives, what positive aspects can I identify?
• Who is someone I trust, who could provide a valuable perspective on the situation?

Once you understand your feeling, you can take the steps necessary to feel better.

Let go of the need to Control your Emotions

When it comes to difficult emotions, we tend to try to and control our emotions. We crave a sense of certainty because we don’t want the bad feelings to takeover. Instead of trying to control your emotions, be open to the outcome. For example, if you have a bad day you’ll try and control it by thinking of what would have prevented you from having a bad day. you’ll go over different scenarios and obsessive over instead of letting it go. Because in reality it’s already happened and there’s nothing you can do to change it, but accept the outcome and move forward.  So when you feel the need to control your emotions, try journaling about it, talking about it with someone, going to the gym, or doing something creative. Don’t dwell on what could have been but focus on letting go and moving forward.

Share your Experience and Ask for Help

It’s never easy to share what we are going through with others or ask someone for help, and we often feel embarrassed about it. But there’s no need to feel embarrassed and hide everything. Doing that won’t make dealing with your problems any easier. So don’t be afraid to open up to a trusted adult, close friend, or join a support group. We all have our good days and our bad days and those bad days are nothing to be ashamed of. So if you’re having a difficult time processing your difficult emotions on your own, talk to someone and ask for help.

Mindfully dealing with difficult emotions isn’t always easy. It takes time, so be patient with yourself. What are some things you do to mindfully deal with difficult emotions?

Related post: How to Create Your Own Anxiety Kit & Calm Box

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