Many of us forget how important it is to express our emotions appropriately. We forget that the adequate expression of our emotions is crucial to our personal wellbeing and mental health. The problem for some of us is that expressing our emotions may not come all that naturally.

This may be due to the way we were raised, our experiences growing up and the associations we have made relating to open self expression. If you’re someone who struggles with expressing your emotions, read on!

A Guide to Expressing your Emotions

As we said there may be a number of reasons why expressing your emotions in a manner which is conducive to you might be tricky. Often, a fear of the same stems from the fact that when you do express your emotions, they are not always well-received. So, how do you go about adequately expressing your emotions in a manner that benefits you?

1. Own your Stuff

The first thing you need to do in order to properly express your emotions is to own them.

Own whatever you may be feeling whether it is pleasant or unpleasant. Accept that you are feeling whatever that may be. Also look into reasons this may be so in order to communicate the same if need be.

2. Make “I Feel” Statements

How people receive our expression of emotion also has a part to play. If well received, we are encouraged to share and express more. If not well received; the opposite holds true. One way that people receive emotional expression better is when you make statements starting with you as opposed to with them.

One example is, instead of saying, “you are hurting me”, one can say, “I feel hurt by what you are saying”. This way, we come off as less blameful and can still adequately express exactly how we are feeling.

3. Say What You Need to When You Need To

Another thing many of us do wrong is to sit on our emotions. We fail to express them in the moment we are feeling them which results in them either coming out at the wrong times or at the wrong people. Further, this might also lead to a sudden overreaction or an outburst.

It is for this reason, important to express how you feel appropriately as and when you do. This does not mean being pushy or imposing. This is simply being aware of your right to state how you feel when you feel a certain way as well as to exercise the same.

When You Just Can’t get it Right

The steps above are meant to help you streamline your emotional expression hence allowing for appropriate and adequate emotional expression. There might however be cases where expressing certain emotions or connecting with the same is more difficult for you than it is for most.

If this is indeed the case do not worry! You can seek support in connecting with and expressing your emotions. Many of us suffer from a fear of expressing our emotions. You can address your fear of emotional expression using a number of methods including therapy and hypnosis. Rest assured, if you’re reading this, you’ve probably developed the will to work on yourself. If you’ve got the will, you’re one step closer!