Our Emotions

Our emotions, pleasant or unpleasant, are useful to us as their purpose is to warn us and provide information to us about how we are experiencing a situation. They are evolutionarily important as they help us survive by functioning to protect us.

• Acknowledging that you are experiencing pain, sadness or grief is an act of kindness to yourself. Ask yourself: “If someone I love was going through this experience, feels what I’m feeling – if I want to be compassionate and / or kind to this person, how would I treat them? What could I say or do?” Then try to treat yourself the same way.
• Make room for your feelings and thoughts, even if they are difficult, and allow them to flow inside you, without trying to avoid them or escape from them. This does not mean that you will fight them or that you should like them. Let go of the futile struggle with thoughts and feelings, so that you have the energy to act. This internalised fight makes you suffer.
• Act in accordance with your values, that is, the things that give meaning to your life. Do what really matters to you, the things you live for!

Marianna Zacharia

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, The Breast Center of Cyprus