This is a bold statement, and there are feelings that are unhealthy, for example, suicidal thoughts. In this blog, I am talking about society and social media always having the expectation of happiness. Negative emotions like fear, sadness, and anger are a basic part of life and sometimes we struggle with how to deal with them effectively, which gives them a negative undertone. When we look at social media, the majority of posts are positive, and our friends and family sharing the best news. This can make it seem like everyone is happy, and when we are not, we feel less than.

“Be positive” has become the new way of telling someone to “cheer up.” It didn’t work then and it doesn’t work now. When you have heard either one of those phrases made you feel better? When I hear it, I am annoyed and feel misunderstood. Prior to therapy, I would feel shameful and hurt.

Like Instagram and other forms of social media, this “positive thinking” movement seems to be about living up to an ideal standard of perceived perfection all the time. Not satisfied with looking “perfect,” now you’ve got to think perfectly, too.

Denying our emotions is an insult to the journey of what it means to be a human being, and it does nothing to help people feel better.

Why emotions are healthy-

Negative thinking is part of the human journey, and that it’s okay to feel less than your best sometimes. Without going into low emotions, we would not feel and appreciate the high emotions. 

What to Do When You’re Feeling Low-

When you’re feeling down, the mind races into overthinking and you start trying to figure out a way to get out of the mood. Although doing this makes sense, this is exactly what keeps you stuck there. Like fighting with a giant spider’s web, the more you try to escape, the more trapped you get.

In the middle of a bad mood, you think your option is to feel good or not—to “be positive” or “be negative.” But it isn’t. Your two choices are seemingly more limited than this: to be okay with where you are or fight against it.

I will admit, when I am in bad mood, this isn’t easy for me to think of. Sometimes I forget.

However, now, whenever I feel depressed, anxious, hurt, or angry, I know it’s not the end of the world; it’s part of life. When I feel this way, I also know that positive change is on its way because this life is never staying in one place, it is ever-changing.

Try to say to yourself- I welcome emotions. I accept the process. And I accept myself even when I can’t accept the process at any moment. After all, I’m human.

Negative emotions will not make your world fall apart—quite the opposite. It is the source of our evolution. And the first step to feeling better is realizing it’s part of the process, and it’s okay.