Journaling on feelings

Feelings are sneaky chameleons. Sometimes they show up as a cover for something else: anger can bubble up out of fear or sadness; anxiety might appear as shame in disguise; frustration could mask resentment or disappointment. 

When I used to work in a volatile industry where layoffs were rampant, people often picked fights and schemed rather than expressing sadness or disappointment over the departures of dear colleagues, or over their own job losses. Instead of revealing vulnerable feelings they’d rage. 

What we’re seeing now in a scary, uncertain pandemic situation are many examples of people covering up fear with anger, frustration, denial and other feelings. 

Sometimes if we’re reading the room and deciding an appropriate response to what’s happening is to be sombre, we might also repress an internal fizz of joy, contentment or a sense of acceptance of the way things are.

Whenever we cover or internalize feelings we leave them bubbling inside, unexpressed.

Journaling is an opportunity to identify all these bubbles, express them, and let them go.

This week I invite you to make lists of all the feelings you’re experiencing. Are any of them covers for something else? Is there anything bubbling you can acknowledge to yourself?

I’ll be journaling with you!

With feeling,

Suzanne

Journaling With Suzanne is a prompt series on Instagram @suzannealyssaauthor

Image credit: by Stellajo1976 via Creative Commons