Allow Yourself to Feel
Life isn’t always sunshine and high-fives. There are moments, days, or even seasons where the weight of hard emotions—fear, sadness, anger—can feel like too much to carry. And it’s in these times that we often want to run, to dodge the discomfort, or to numb ourselves with distraction. But what if, instead, we chose to face those hard emotions head-on?
This past week my son, Liam, had to go have surgery (for the second time) to deal with is tongue tie. Anytime anyone has to go under anesthesia it’s stressful, but especially when it’s a young child.
So I was already feeling all the things as we got up super early Friday morning to drive to his surgery. We pull up the hospital in College Station and right away I’ve got even more emotions. As I stare at the entrance I’m flooded with the memories of being in this exact spot in March of 2018. Because it’s the same hospital my mom died in.
We walked inside, got onto the elevator, and went to the surgery floor. Which just so happens to be the same floor as the ICU. So as we exit the elevator and turn left to head to surgery check in, I glance to my right towards the ICU area and every memory immediately comes back.
I remember the smell, the feel of the chairs we sat in for hours, the colors of the room, all of it.
But I did something different when I felt the emotions rise up. I embraced them. I allowed myself to feel sorrow for the loss. I didn’t break down in tears, but I didn’t try and bury them either. I allowed myself to feel the worry and concern for my son, while also feeling the pain of loss of being back in the same area my mom passed away from, for the first time since she passed away. I didn’t live in those emotions and let them take me over, but I didn’t run from them either.
Here’s the thing: running from tough emotions doesn’t make them disappear. It just delays their impact, sometimes even adding fuel to their fire. And while facing them might feel like staring down a storm, there’s something incredibly powerful about standing in that storm, leaning into the discomfort, and learning what it has to teach you.
It’s easy to assume that embracing hard emotions makes us weak or vulnerable. But in truth, the very opposite is true. There’s a strength that builds within us when we allow ourselves to fully feel, to sit in the uncomfortable, and to not have all the answers right away. It’s in this process that we learn resilience. It’s here we grow stronger, more self-aware, and more empathetic. By embracing hard emotions, we also discover a deeper part of ourselves that we might’ve never known.
So, how do we do this? Start by giving yourself permission to feel. Acknowledge that sadness, frustration, or fear isn’t wrong—it’s simply a part of being human. Then, take a breath, sit with it, and listen. What is that emotion trying to tell you? What story does it have to share? And as you go through this, remember, you’re not alone. Lean on those around you, connect, and share, because we’re all navigating this human experience together.
Embracing hard emotions isn’t easy. But when you choose not to run from them, you find yourself better prepared for whatever life throws your way. So next time, instead of running from the storm, stand in it. Embrace it. Because that’s where true growth begins.
(and Liam was a rockstar. The nurses and doctors were all complementing his calm and steady control)
