In order to collect the tools needed to filter through and resolve negative and overwhelming feelings, you must first gather the courage to sit alone with them in silence.
“How are you?” might be the most commonly asked question asked among modern people. Friends, lovers, family members, co-workers, and even strangers ask one another this question every day, often several times a day. And most times, the answer given in reply is a lie that’s told so often, that it just rolls right off the tongue: “I’m fine.” So often, we’re anything but fine when we answer that question, so why do we say that we are? Because many of us understand that the question itself is often not asked out of genuine concern, but is often spoken in the same obligatory manner as the answer. We live in a culture where we feel a lot, and we talk a lot around human emotions, and we are told that we should care about other people, but very rarely do we hold space to truly listen to one another’s feelings, especially if they are negative or overwhelming.
This is where you come in. How are you? I’m not asking you to provide me with this answer. I’m inviting you to check in on yourself, every day, and probe your feelings. I am challenging you to confront even the negative feelings head-on. I’m implying that, once you acknowledge, understand, and respect your feelings, you can begin to change mindsets and situations that are holding you back. I believe that asking yourself how you’re doing, everyday, several times a day, and waiting for an honest response, can start to change your life.
