It doesn’t seem right to be ok with not being ok. It may feel like you are giving in to feelings that will lead you to a downward spiral, or you are giving up on holding on to positivity. Maybe we learned to fear “negative” emotions and feelings at some point. As though these are monsters which will never let go of us if they grip their grimy poisonous claws into us. Yup, that’s an ugly picture to paint but think about it. The general perspective on allowing ourselves to feel unpleasant emotions is often rejected – by ourselves and others.
It would help if you leaned into negative emotions to get through them and overcome them with a clearer perspective and understanding of yourself. However, before we get into this, you need to understand that negative feelings do not always indicate that you are depressed or suffering a form of deep, never-ending sadness. If you think you are experiencing anything like this, please get in touch with us on our Youth Hotline. We also offer free WhatsApp counseling, so remember, whether it’s big or small, we are here for you.
Although it may feel counterintuitive to allow yourself to feel uncomfortable feelings, it is necessary to do that because it will enable you to grow and learn more about yourself. Remember, you are constantly evolving as a person and going through stages and experiences in your life that you have never been through before. Although this may sound confusing, keep in mind that you go through the same emotions differently – hopefully with more maturity and the ability to get through them with grace.
Listen to the podcast: You should never pretend to be ok
Being a Christian does not exempt us from going through tough times. People wrongly attach shame to it because we are afraid to be seen as people who cannot handle tough times. We don’t want people to view us as weak. It is so sad that we add this kind of pressure on our already weary and tired hearts simply so people won’t think less of us (or make fun of us) if we are honest about not being ok.
Shame is a very heavy and unnecessary burden to carry. It would help if you learned to be ok with not being ok first. That acceptance will help relieve you of unneeded strain. It is something a lot of us need to learn for ourselves, and we also need to learn to be ok with other people not being ok so that we can still treat them with kindness, dignity, and love; and so that we can support them.
Read: The floor is lava
Self-acceptance starts with self. When you accept that you are not ok and do not fight it, you give yourself an opportunity to learn how to navigate through difficult emotions. Handling your challenging emotions well is a skill you learn through experiencing them, not by avoiding them and pretending to be ok to save yourself from other people’s judgment of you.
Sometimes you might wake up not feeling great, but you don’t know why. Sometimes this happens randomly as you go about your day, while other times, we struggle through painful emotions because of the bad things we go through. You don’t always have to know why you feel certain feelings, but you also don’t always have to ignore the feelings. Talking helps a lot – it doesn’t always have to be serious, but just bringing to light what is going on within you allows you to remain mindful of yourself. Putting this into practice may feel like an extra thing, but it will help you so much in the long run. It’s a healthy “practice” for maintaining mental and emotional well-being.
Speaking to someone is not only for people going through extra heavy emotions. It is also good for the “lighter” but sad and mad ones. You never have to go through things alone. Be part of a community, and reach out to others. We are always here for a chat when you need us.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven. Many people talk about making a difference but following God's instruction as stated above is requires making the change from talking to doing. If Christians talk less and act as the light and salt of this world what a wonderful place it will be? Have you ever eaten a meal […]
I Am Youth web radio is the go-to platform for today’s young adults. Our team of young, charismatic influencers is based in South Africa. We produce high-quality content on TikTok social media and YouTube. Our primary goal is to infiltrate the spaces that young people already occupy.
