Managing your response to others’ behavior is an essential part of personal growth and healthy relationships. People who develop the skill of identifying and labeling their feelings are less likely to engage in destructive behaviors like substance abuse or self-harm, and more likely to have a positive outlook on life. Why should you work on owning your feelings? 

Benefits of Owning Your Feelings

It’s natural to get upset sometimes because of hurtful things others say or do. Taking ownership of your feelings doesn’t mean sweeping difficult emotions under the rug. Instead, it’s about analyzing why you’re reacting in a particular way. Step back and get to the heart of why something is bothering you, instead of blaming others for “making” you feel things. If it seems someone in your life isn’t treating you with the respect you deserve, you can politely ask them to change their behavior. However, you’re ultimately in control of how you respond and relate to others.  

Owning your feelings can be a tough concept to embrace because it requires you to take full responsibility in your life. There might be times you want to shift accountability to somebody else, but you’ll learn more when you proactively take the power back. Doing so will also help you learn to be more assertive. When in doubt, ask yourself, “Why am I feeling this way, and how can I come to terms with it?”  

Tips for Successfully Owning Your Feelings

• Allow yourself to feel: Often, society teaches us to stifle ourselves. For example, many adults are embarrassed about crying in public or honestly sharing strong emotions such as love, shame and anger. Outdated ideas about behaving impassively have done more harm than good. Feelings are part of the human experience, and we all have them – regardless of age, race, gender identity or upbringing. 

• Don’t push emotions away: Most of us are familiar with the idea of suppressing, instead of expressing, how we genuinely feel. However, keeping everything bottled up inside can be stressful. Eventually, failing to take ownership of your feelings can adversely affect your mental health, which links closely with your physical well-being. You might start to have chronic stress symptoms such as high blood pressure, insomnia, headaches, fatigue and a loss of interest in previously enjoyable hobbies. 

• Talk through your challenges: Nobody has all the answers. Ask for advice from a trusted friend or family member when you need it. You might be surprised to learn that others in your life have struggled with similar challenges and dealt with them successfully.  

Treatment Today for a Better Tomorrow

At Serene Behavioral Health, we understand everyone needs help with life’s challenges sometimes. We are here to help treat mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and mood disorders; post-traumatic stress disorder; and borderline personality disorder. Contact us today to verify your insurance coverage and learn more about how you can benefit from our personalized treatment programs.