Stop fighting yourself

When you’re feeling down, it’s normal to want to do whatever it takes to avoid your negative emotions. But fighting your feelings doesn’t always work, and it can even make you feel worse! So, don’t fall into the trap of fighting against yourself. Instead, the next time you’re stressed or upset, try to notice how you respond to these feelings. Do you tend to suppress unpleasant thoughts or emotions? Do you run away from unpleasant situations? 

The following quiz will help you better understand your reactions.

Take the quiz

Since stress, self-doubt, and negative emotions are all a normal part of life, why not give them a little breathing room? With practice, you’ll soon see that it gets easier to cope even when you have feelings of discomfort!

Here’s an exercise that can help you do this:

Learn more about yourself through your values

Understanding your personal values and knowing your strengths can also help you make decisions when you’re going through a rough patch. Our values represent what is most important to us. Think of them like an anchor that keeps us connected to ourselves, or a compass that guides our choices. What values are most important to you? What ideals do you want to represent with your friends, your family, or society in general? To help you identify your values you can fill out this list.

Values inventory

When we feel bad, we’re often driven to look outside ourselves for advice on what to do. But there’s no one-size-fits-all solution! More often than not, the answers are inside you and the right decision is the one that most aligns with your values. Going forward, try to make decisions based on your values. You’ll find that it’s much easier to manage your emotional discomfort.