7 Reasons Your Feelings Matter
The Oxford English dictionary defines feelings as, “an emotional state or reaction.” Feelings can also be a physical sensations. Feelings are a conscious experience. They help us identify our responses and trigger our actions to events and circumstances. Feelings allow us to find an infinite pool of social information. This allows us to communicate our needs to others and realize the needs of others.
They give us the ability to experience the ups and downs of life. Feelings also help us create, maintain, and navigate our relationships with others. Feelings also have the ability to help us survive. They have the ability to trigger our body’s fight-or-flight response.
It is common for people to try to avoid their feelings or to push them aside. Not processing your feelings can lead to many negative effects both physically and emotionally.
Below are some potential consequences of suppressing your feelings:
● Inability to develop healthy relationships
● Behaviors that are angry, aggressive, or explosive
● Sadness, anxiousness, or agitation
● Poor communication
● Pessimistic perspective on life
● Low self-esteem, guilt, low self-worth, or shame
● Experiencing unexplained fears or phobias
In order to cultivate a long-lasting life of psychological and emotional well-being, you absolutely need to learn to embrace your feelings.
Below are 7 reasons why your feelings matter.
Safety: Your feelings matter because they keep you safe. Your body is wired to have a fight-or-flight response. If your feelings are telling you that you are in a threatening situation, you need to listen to them to survive.
Motivation: Your feelings will keep you motivated. If you feel happy, you will continue to act the same way to feel good about yourself and your life. If you feel sad or angry, you will be able to change your pace, direction, or actions to move toward the things you want
Decision Making: Your feelings will help you make decisions. If you feel unease about an upcoming business transaction, you will do more research and push to uncover red flags. Your feelings could actually have you cancel the transaction and help you avoid a long-lasting mistake.
Self-Reflection: Your feelings make you look inwards. Self-reflection is hard but is necessary. Are you satisfied with who you are? Do you want to become a better person? Your feelings will help you learn about yourself and who you want to become.
Connection with Others: Your feelings allow you to connect with others. You can begin to understand another person and build long-lasting relationships because of it.
Problem Solve: Your feelings give you the ability to problem-solve. Feelings alert you to different sensations and ideas around us. They allow you to develop new ideas and try new paths.
Success: Your feelings can path your way to success. Every feeling has a meaning. Feelings can help you sprint ahead when everyone else is hesitant or they can stop you dead in your tracks while everyone else is charging ahead. Feelings can help you achieve success in your personal and professional life.
When we learn to listen to our feelings, we are essentially allowing ourselves to become the best version of ourselves that we can be. Rather than running from your feelings or sweeping them under the rug, learn to embrace them fully.
Embracing feelings does not come easy, especially with regard to negative feelings. It will take time, effort, and dedication.
Your feelings help pave the way for character building and for leading the life you want. Your feelings matter as they help you become successful, problems solving, build connections with others, engage in self-reflection, help with decision making, build motivation, and provide a safe response.