Ever feel like your emotions are a rollercoaster you just can't get off? Yeah you're not alone. We all navigate this complex world of feelings. Sometimes they lift us up and other times they can feel incredibly heavy. Understanding them is a journey not a destination.
Here at GoodExistence.com we talk a lot about transformation. Our founder Stephen Montagne's journey is a testament to that. He lost over 110 pounds. He overcame habits like gaming binge eating and drinking. A huge part of that change was learning to understand and manage his feelings. Often those unhealthy habits were ways to cope with or numb emotions he didn't know how to handle. Learning to face those feelings was a game-changer. It's about recognizing them not letting them rule you.
Emotions are signals. They tell us what we need what's important or what's out of balance. Ignoring them is like ignoring the check engine light in your car. So let's explore some wisdom about feelings and emotions. Maybe these words can offer you a new perspective or a bit of comfort today.
25 Quotes to Guide You Through Your Feelings
Here are 25 quotes that shed light on the nature of our emotional world:
- "Feelings are not supposed to be logical. Dangerous is the man who has rationalized his emotions." – David Borenstein
- Sometimes we try too hard to make sense of why we feel a certain way. It's okay for feelings to just be.
- "Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts and you are the slave to your emotions." – Elizabeth Gilbert
- This highlights the power of our thinking in shaping our feelings.
- "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." – Helen Keller
- A beautiful reminder of the depth and importance of our emotional experiences.
- "Feelings are much like waves we can't stop them from coming but we can choose which one to surf." – Jonatan Mårtensson
- You don't have to be swept away by every emotion. You can learn to ride them.
- "To hide feelings when you are near crying is the secret of dignity." – Dejan Stojanovic
- There's strength in composure but remember it's also okay to be vulnerable.
- "Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways." – Sigmund Freud
- This is so true. Stephen found that many of his past habits were fueled by unexpressed emotions. Acknowledging them is key.
- "We cannot tell what may happen to us in the strange medley of life. But we can decide what happens in us." – Joseph Fort Newton
- We can't control events but we can work on our internal responses.
- "The emotion that can break your heart is sometimes the very one that heals it." – Nicholas Sparks
- Painful emotions can lead to growth and healing if we process them.
- "Don’t let your emotions overpower your intelligence." – Unknown
- Strive for balance between heart and head.
- "Instead of resisting any emotion the best way to dispel it is to enter it fully embrace it and see through your resistance." – Deepak Chopra
- Trying to fight a feeling often makes it stronger. Acceptance can be powerful.
- "Our feelings are our most genuine paths to knowledge." – Audre Lorde
- They teach us about ourselves and the world.
- "Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so you apologize for the truth." – Benjamin Disraeli
- Your feelings are valid.
- "The degree of an emotion is not the measure of its truth." – John Lancaster Spalding
- Just because a feeling is intense doesn't mean the thoughts behind it are 100% accurate.
- "Emotions are experiences. They are not problems to be solved." – Unknown
- Try to experience them without immediately needing to fix them.
- "It is a curious sensation: the sort of pain that goes mercifully beyond our powers of feeling. When your heart is broken your boats are burned: nothing matters any more." – C.S. Lewis
- C.S. Lewis understood deep emotional pain and how faith can be a comfort.
- "We are dangerous when we are not conscious of our responsibility for how we behave when we are reacting to our emotions." – Marshall B. Rosenberg
- Emotional awareness includes taking responsibility for our actions.
- "All emotions even those that are suppressed have an impact on the body." – Candace Pert
- Think about how stress or sadness can manifest physically. It's all connected.
- "The more you hide your feelings the more they show. The more you deny your feelings the more they grow." – Unknown
- Honesty with yourself is the first step.
- "Change happens in the boiler room of our emotions." – Chip Heath
- True transformation often starts with addressing deep-seated feelings.
- "Do not let your emotions override your decisions. True strength is keeping everything in balance." – Unknown
- A reminder to act wisely not just reactively.
- "Feelings are like visitors let them come and go." – Mooji
- This perspective can help create distance and reduce overwhelm.
- "Let’s not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it." – Vincent Van Gogh
- Pay attention to those subtle feelings. They often guide us more than we think.
- "The only way to change someone's mind is to connect with them from the heart." – Rasheed Ogunlaru
- Empathy and emotional connection are powerful tools.
- "Positive feelings come from being honest about yourself and accepting your personality and physical characteristics." – Willard Scott
- Self-acceptance is a foundation for emotional well-being.
- "Your intellect may be confused but your emotions will never lie to you." – Roger Ebert
- Trust your gut. It often knows what's up.
Making Friends with Your Feelings
Reading quotes is one thing. Living them is another. So how can we get better at navigating our emotional landscape? Here are a few simple ideas.
- Name It to Tame It: When a strong feeling comes up try to identify it. Is it anger sadness frustration joy? Just naming the emotion can sometimes reduce its power over you. It helps you observe it rather than be consumed by it.
- Give Yourself Space: You don't always need to react immediately to a feeling. It's okay to pause breathe and let the initial intensity pass. Stephen found that creating a small gap between a craving (often emotion-driven) and an action was crucial for breaking habits like binge eating.
- Find Healthy Outlets: Instead of bottling things up or turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms find constructive ways to express yourself. This could be talking to a friend journaling exercising or engaging in a creative hobby. Stephen's productive routine with short bursts of deep work became a positive focus. Celebrating small wins and daily gratitude also shifted his emotional state.
- Listen to Your Body: Emotions often have physical sensations. A tight chest a racing heart butterflies. Pay attention to these signals. They are part of your emotional intelligence.
Faith as an Anchor
For Stephen a significant part of his journey in managing emotions and finding balance was strengthening his Christian Orthodox faith. Faith can provide a profound sense of peace purpose and perspective especially when emotions feel overwhelming. It offers a framework for understanding suffering finding meaning and connecting to something larger than oneself. This doesn't mean emotions disappear but faith can be an anchor helping you navigate stormy seas with greater strength and hope. It helps in understanding that feelings are temporary but God’s love and presence are constant.
Your Emotional Journey
Understanding and managing your emotions is a lifelong practice. There will be good days and tough days. The goal isn't to stop feeling or to only feel "good" emotions. It's about learning to acknowledge all your feelings with compassion and wisdom. It’s about making them work for you not against you.
What’s one small step you can take today to better understand or express an emotion you’re feeling? Maybe it's simply acknowledging it to yourself. That’s a great start.
