What Is Anger?That churning feeling in the gut which erupts up through the body and makes us see red, anger can vary in intensity from mild frustration to outright rage. … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Feelings: Anger and Power (Part 1 of 3)
Tag: feelings
Let’s Talk About Feelings: Sadness and Joy (Part 2 of 2)
Sadness’s Equal/Opposite: JoyExuberance, excitement, energy, cheer— everything absent in sadness is present in joy. Where sadness may create distance and disinterest, joy generates playfulness and stimulation. While sadness lends itself … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Feelings: Sadness and Joy (Part 2 of 2)
Let’s Talk About Feelings: Sadness and Joy (Part 1 of 2)
What Is Sadness?Whether it’s loneliness, disappointment over a loss, or existential despair, sadness has many faces. In general, we’re talking about a loss of joy, often coupled with a loss … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Feelings: Sadness and Joy (Part 1 of 2)
Let’s Talk About Feelings: Introduction
My chaplaincy supervisor sat across from me every week and asked the same question: “What’s the feeling?” He displayed remarkable patience as I searched for the right word, which always … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Feelings: Introduction
Empathy in Crisis
So often, when we encounter the suffering of others, we create distance. We may resort to intellectual answers, empty sympathy, or cliches and “conventional wisdom,” but when we do this, … Continue reading Empathy in Crisis
Revisiting “God Won’t Give You More than You Can Handle”
You know, try as I might, I just can’t get the expression “God won’t give you more than you can handle” to go away. As previously stated on this blog, … Continue reading Revisiting “God Won’t Give You More than You Can Handle”
Death, Depression, and Cartoon Animals
A few years ago, I saw that Netflix was airing a new adult-oriented cartoon set in an alternate reality version of Los Angeles where cursing, drinking animals live alongside cursing, … Continue reading Death, Depression, and Cartoon Animals
Getting Beyond “How’s It Going?”
“Pretty good.” “Not bad.” “Alright.” “Fine.” “Can’t complain.”
When you ask a vague question, you get vague answers. Here are some better questions to help people talk through their feelings…
“Don’t Feel Sad!” (or whatever other perfectly reasonable emotion you’re feeling)
Rather than telling people what not to feel, maybe we can help them express those feelings in healthier ways.
I Know How You Feel
No, you don’t know how I feel, and that’s okay.