Feeling What You Feel

The other day on the radio, a young man struggling with his mental health in lockdown said "you have let yourself feel what you feel". Twice. "Feel what you feel" is one of the new-age mental health mantras, right up there with self love. But how useful is it? I only speak for myself when I say that it is useful but not very. While it is important not to censor your thoughts or fight what you are feeling it is also important not to be fully hostage to them. Most feelings are transitory but if the unsavoury ones stick around it is important to take action to release yourself from their overpowering grip. The action could mean simply changing the tempo, doing something to distract yourself until the feeling passes. Or talking and guiding yourself to a better place. It is not easy, but one gets better with practice. Of course, not all unsavoury feelings are undesirable. Sometimes unsavoury feelings are a message to change something and not just take steps to get away from those feelings.