Feel Bad

We have become centered around feelings and emotions that are fleeting at best. We are constantly being told we should do whatever makes us feel good, just follow your heart, whatever makes you happy. All of those are terrible ways to live and even worse to encourage kids to do those things.

It is ok to feel bad. It is only when we feel bad that we appreciate feeling good. You never look back in a moment of contentment and think about that terrible thing that happened to you that one time. No. Instead, when you feel bad, you remember the good times you had. Those moments when you were at your best, no matter how short lived they may have been at the time, always come back to be treasured.

It is ok to feel sad. So many times when we feel sad we ignore it. When we want to cry we wipe the tears away before anyone can see. Being sad, crying, and allowing yourself to feel those things in the moment entice compassion and sympathy for the human condition. I have a handful of movies I own just for this purpose. When I feel sad, I watch one of those movies I know will get me to tear up. Instead of crawling into bed and sinking into a pit of depression, allow yourself to feel sad once in a while. Have a good cry. When you are in control of the sad times, you will be surprised how truly relieved you feel.

It is ok not to be happy. When you are not happy, if you realize it and catch yourself feeling that way, it can be a great encouragement to step out of your comfort zone and make someone else's day. The best thing for me to do when I am not feeling "happy" is to find someone feeling the same and doing whatever it takes to cheer them up. Sometimes it just takes you being empathetic to their emotions. Sometimes it takes you making your belly button talk. Whatever it is, making someone else feel happy will change the way you feel about the way you feel.