In today’s society, we have an epidemic fear of sadness. When we’re feeling down, we’re told to “Just be happy”.
We’re told to “Stop frowning and start smiling”.
And we’re told to “Think of all there is to be happy about and stop being sad.”
Although the idea of happiness is wonderful, assuming that someone in pain can just turn off how they feel, is incredibly invalidating and ultimately sends us the message that we are wrong or bad for feeling what we are feeling.
I’m here to tell you that you are completely, totally, and unconditionally allowed to feel whatever it is that you feel.
Feeling sad doesn’t make you weak or inadequate—it makes you human.
Sadness is a normal and necessary part of existence.
Without it, we wouldn’t be able to cherish and truly appreciate the times we’re feeling good. Happiness is great, but it’s unrealistic to think you can experience it all the time.
Know that if you feel something, you are feeling it for a reason.
Faking a smile and hiding away your feelings won’t make the sadness go away. It only intensifies and perpetuates your hurt.
And ultimately, it keeps you stuck.
The only way to move past the sadness is to allow yourself to feel it.
This means removing the judgement you have about feeling anything less than happy.
It means giving yourself permission to feel whatever you feel, without confines or conditions.
And it means recognizing that allowing yourself to embrace how you feel is a form of self-care.
Humans are feeling oriented creatures.
By denying yourself the right to feel what you feel, you’re denying yourself the freedom to be who you are.
Don’t let other people’s fear of feelings limit you.
Don’t let society’s discomfort with sadness prevent you from feeling what you feel.
If you feel something, it’s real and important and valid. And nothing anyone says has the power to discount that.