In the second lesson I shared about what 2024 taught me, I emphasized the importance of alignment. Alignment is the only way you evolve into a better version of yourself. And sometimes, getting in alignment can feel uncomfortable. While it’s not a pleasant task to sit with discomfort, it’s always in your best interest to do so. Here’s why.
It’s your emotions vs. you
Most people are not aware of the chokehold their emotions put them in. When you are intolerant of negative emotions, they don’t just go away because you avoid them. Whether you acknowledge them or not, that fear, anger, sadness, or irritation is going to come out somehow, some way. What’s more, it will usually happen at the most inconvenient time.
To avoid your emotions is to relent your autonomy and self-control to them. Like a toddler having a temper tantrum, your emotions will insist on getting your attention, regardless of what you do to circumvent them. Giving yourself permission to feel difficult emotions without attempting to suppress them, fix them, or alleviate them tells you important information about yourself. This insight lets you know where your blind spots are and which areas of your wellbeing need more TLC.
Not sure where to start? Use this journal prompt:
- How do I respond to (fear, anger, disappointment, discontent)? What does that say about the kind of person I want to be?
Deceiving yourself or hiding from powerful emotions provides a comforting distraction, but it will not make them go away. Conquering these powerful emotions means accepting that pain is an integral part of life and allowing yourself to feel your way through it. As the great stoic philosopher, Seneca, once said about loss, “It’s better to conquer grief than to deceive it.”
For more insightful lessons I learned this year that can help you manage stress better and increase your productivity, check out:
