The phrase “boys don’t cry” is a thing of the past. Unfortunately, it’s so ingrained in some of us that it’s difficult to move beyond the thought and to openly express your emotions. For too many men, expressing feelings is seen as a weakness. That fear of being open and vulnerable is what we have to let go of or risk being unable to properly connect with anyone.
The inability to express emotions puts up a barrier in a relationship and will slowly erode that bond over time. This is what Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. of PsychCentral says. She also says that not being in touch with your own emotions will prevent you from understanding what it is that you truly want out of life.
So, how do you overcome this? Here are some great ways to get to grips with what you’re feeling and more importantly, get comfortable with those emotions.
Become Aware Of Your Feelings And Name Them
The first step is to acknowledge your emotions. To do this in an effective and kind way, start by naming them. Work out if you’re feeling sad, jealous, anxious, happy, proud, even nonplussed. There is no right or wrong to the emotion you’re feeling. It’s about feeling it, naming it and starting to gain an understanding of the emotion. Alice Boyes, PhD. says that doing this type of exercise is crucial if you want to overcome difficulties with avoiding feelings.
Choose Someone You Trust To Be Open With
The next step is start being open with your emotions with someone else. Start with someone you know well and trust. This can be a psychologist, a close friend you enjoy eSports bets NZ activities with, or a family member. Again, there isn’t really a right or wrong answer to who you choose for this step. Just go for someone you know you can be real with and they won’t judge you. Try to avoid choosing someone who is also uncomfortable with their emotions, otherwise you might end up going backwards.
Watch How People React To Others Showing Emotions
A very interesting study when it comes to understanding emotions is to watch the world around you. Look at people who are happy to shout for joy in public, or cry when watching a sad movie at the cinema. Identify their emotions, but also identify what the world around them is doing. Understanding why other people may be comfortable or uncomfortable at other people showing emotions may help you with your journey.
Stay Present With Someone Experiencing Intense Emotions
Finally, it’s time to test yourself with how comfortable you have become with the idea of showing intense emotions. If you have someone you care about going through something, stay by their side and really be there for them. Don’t try to stop their experience because it makes you feels something. Rather give in and feel what you are feeling. Being comfortable with emotions means you will be able to empathise with the people you care about.