Many times feelings are the last thing that people want to talk about. In the counseling room, I have had people ask, “What is the point of it all?” The truth is that we have emotional responses to things all of the time, even if we are not aware of it. The more we learn to identify and share what is going on inside of us, the more freedom we have. As long as we are in emotional turmoil, it can distract us from making clear decisions because we are in constant reaction to life’s challenges. Ignoring our feelings often makes things worse, but as we learn to identify and talk about our feelings, the feelings become more manageable.
Amy Brooten, MA, LAPC |