When I ask people what they want in life, the most common answer is, "I just want to be happy." While happiness is a wonderful emotion, it’s only one of the seven core emotions we experience. True emotional intelligence involves understanding and embracing the full spectrum of our feelings. This not only leads to genuine moments of happiness but also creates a more fulfilling and resilient life.
In today’s society, we are constantly bombarded with messages to "choose happy," "get happy," and "good vibes only." (I’m not gonna lie…there was a time I owned a “good vibes only” sweatshirt. As if I could just put the sweatshirt on and—poof—all I would have is good vibes.)
But the truth is, telling someone to “choose happy” isn’t realistic and certainly isn’t great for our overall well-being. If you’ve ever had real-life “stuff” or grief happen to you, you can’t just ignore the emotions and feelings that are so real and raw and just decide to be happy. When I was navigating my own grief journey, I told my life coach that I was done and just wanted to be happy again. She related grief to food poisoning—you can’t just ignore it and pretend it’s not there. You have to DEAL with it. You have to learn how to make space for the emotions you feel, honor them, acknowledge them, and then continue to live your life as the very best version of YOU.
These ultra-positive slogans, although they come from a good place, can pressure us to suppress our true emotions, leading to a mental health crisis. Instead of suppressing our feelings, we should learn to navigate them.
Here’s why:
Authenticity: Embracing all emotions allows us to be true to ourselves and live authentically.
Resilience: Understanding our emotions helps us build resilience, making it easier to bounce back from challenges.
Genuine Happiness: By accepting and processing all our emotions, we create space for genuine moments of happiness and success.
Improved Relationships: Emotional intelligence fosters better communication and deeper connections with others.
Personal Growth: Navigating our emotions is essential for personal development and self-improvement.
Remember: It's not about feeling happy all the time. It’s about experiencing the full range of emotions and learning to navigate them effectively. This is the true path to lasting happiness and success.
Stay curious, keep shining, and honor your emotions so you can truly be who you came to be.
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