When you think of someone who is emotionally strong you may think that nothing bothers them or that they never struggle when they encounter hard situations in their life; but that’s not always true. Being emotionally strong does not mean a person is stone cold or never feels down, they are still human, so they will still experience the same hard emotions (and all the ups and downs that go along with them) as everyone else.
The difference is, they make an intentional choice to respond to their emotions in a healthy manner, which has helped them develop habits that make them emotionally stronger, allowing them to navigate the ups and downs in a positive way.
Let’s talk about 5 of those habits and how they help.
#1 – They let themselves feel all their feelings
Ignoring your feelings or stuffing them deep down inside is not a sign of strength. It may feel scary to allow yourself to feel the big, ugly feelings and emotions that you are experiencing but eventually those feelings will come back up and they will most likely be bigger and uglier than they were initially. It’s okay to feel them, even if they scare you and make you think bad thoughts, it’s how you respond to them that matters.
You can feel negative emotions without responding to them in a negative way.
#2 – They are not afraid to cry
So many people are embarrassed to cry, even when they are alone. We have been conditioned to think that it is a sign of weakness, but it’s not! Crying reduces emotional stress and it allows you a way to release and process emotions.
“When emotions are held back, such as swallowing or holding back tears, the emotional energy gets congested in the body. Rather than having that flow of emotional force circulating and completing its cycle, it gets stopped up.” (“Crying is a Sign of Strength, Not Weakness.” Enlightened Solutions. https://enlightenedsolutions.com/crying-is-a-sign-of-strength-not-weakness/)
#3 – They give themselves grace
Sometimes it’s easy to blame yourself or acknowledge your flaws that may have led to an emotional situation. It’s true that you may make a mistake but if you are constantly engaging in negative self-talk you will break yourself down and struggle to be emotionally strong. Be gentle with yourself, show some grace, and be intentional about taking steps to make positive changes.
#4 – They think before they act
When emotions are running high you may be tempted to make impulsive decisions in an effort to change the situation you are in. But your judgment is usually cloudy because those big feelings are taking up most of the space in your brain and there is little room left for logical thinking.
Things become more clear after you have given your emotions a chance to settle down and even out. Make a choice to not make big decisions or take action on something outside of your normal activities, while you are in the middle of a very emotional situation.
A good rule of thumb is to ‘sleep on it’, meaning you give yourself at least one good night’s rest and see if you still feel like it’s a good idea tomorrow.
#5 – They set boundaries
If you allow things to happen that make you uncomfortable or that you know should not be happening then you will have an emotional response; and if it happens repeatedly then it will wear on your emotional health. When you set boundaries it shows that you care for your relationships and for yourself. Standing up for yourself and holding a boundary is not selfish, it shows that you are aware of what your needs are and you are mature enough to convey them to others. (Shubham [bookreadersclub] “4 Habits of Emotionally Strong People.” *Instagram, January 17, 2024, https://www.instagram.com/p/C2MgjanrV-9/?img_index=2)
Click HERE to read a previous post where we explain how to set and hold boundaries.
Emotionally strong people did not just wake up one day with these habits. They took the time to learn about how to process their emotions and deal with them in a positive manner. You can do this too!
If you need help taking that first step to develop emotional strength, contact us, we are here to help!
