We, as fellow humans, have to go through many experiences throughout our lives. Some are amazing, uplifting and you just wanna do them again and again. While some could be humbling and at times, heart-breaking.
It is these experiences that shape us. They make us who we are as a person.
Part of human experience is to live through success and adversity. But another rather unpopular part of life is that adversity sticks. Yes, you’ll find yourself stuck more to the negative experiences than the positive ones.
The Negative Bias
Go ahead, think of the last good thing you did or someone did for you. And how long did it stay in your experience? I know, it was short-lived.
Now think of the last fight or argument you had to go through. How long did you not talk to your friend after that fight? Probably much longer than you’d like.
When you withhold these negative emotions arising out of bad experiences, they fester. Well, not literally but it does something similar like rotting and gives out a foul smell. That is putting it very simplistically but it is important to understand that when you are feeling negative or sad, it is important to let it out.
Let it Out
Opening up to someone can be a very powerful and healing experience. For the introverts among us, a certain reluctance can come at play. Finding someone you can confide in, a friend, an online forum could be helpful. Mind well that these options are to just talk about your feelings and experiences. For advice and medication on mental health, you should always go to a professional and nobody else.
So, how does talking help?
Drops Stress Levels
When you finally take the chance and open up to someone, you release a lot of tension from your body. It is like a sigh of relief. There is a gradual drop in your cortisol levels, the stress hormone in our body.
As you practice this more and more, let it out, you free yourself from the negativity you were holding all this while. It helps you get over the experience you went through gradually.
Helps Sort Things Out
When you talk about the things that are bothering you out loud, you are going over them again and this time in a different manner. This allows you to gather your thoughts, notice a finer detail you may have previously missed and maybe even find out a solution to an underlying problem!
When you share, even in the process of talking about it you’ll find relief. Let alone when your friends or family sit and listen to you. When you take that effort to reach out, you’ve already solved half the problem. Your friends and family will definitely try to help you and provide valuable insights.
See Things From a Different Lens
Sometimes some things appear just unsolvable. Sometimes you see no option but to give up. Let me tell you that this is the perfect situation to reach out to someone and talk about your situation.
What this does is that it allows you to get a different perspective on things. Sometimes we need help to see things differently, from a different lens. A positive, thoughtful person can not only listen to your problem but also understand it. He is then properly positioned to help you see things you may be overlooking.
Make the effort. Give it a shot and I am sure you’ll enjoy the process and maybe even form a deeper bond over the conversation. Remember, to go far, you have to go together. Two can accomplish what one could not.
Gives You a Boost
Sometimes we just need to be heard. At times, that’s all that could be required. You’ll find that when you share your problems, give expression to your feelings, it gives you a boost of positivity. It gives you that push to go a little further, try a little harder.
As I stated above, to go far we must go together because when one falls, the other gives him a helping hand. Just having that helping hand ready to reach when necessary is enough motivation to see the problem through. Faith comes into the picture, which in itself is very powerful.
Kicks Loneliness Out
Its a good feeling knowing that someone cares. When you reach out to someone or share your problems, you are opening up an opportunity for people to connect with you. This is a vital step.
When you allow this connection to happen, give people an opportunity to help, a deeper connection can be formed. This can lead to forming deeper friendships. Instantly the world starts feeling a little less lonely.
Knowing that you are not alone, helps you stay positive. Though its best to find a friend or family to talk to, sometimes the best company you can find for yourself is you.
The Power of Emotions
Think about it, when you’re in trouble, the thing that’s hindering your progress is not the hurdle itself but your own emotions! It is because we’ve somehow programmed our brain to get anxious, panic at the sight of problems, our ability to look at the solutions is greatly hampered.
Yes, some problems are bigger than others. Some take longer than others to solve. Yes, it helps to have friends or someone you can reach out to. But are any problems truly bigger than you? Bigger than what you are capable of? I don’t think so. We should talk more about the power you hold, in a separate post.
Conclusion
Seek, share and smile. Try opening up to someone about something that you've buried deep into the back of your mind. It's okay to hesitate at first but try and I assure you that it'll be a rewarding experience.
And in case, you can't find the right person to talk to, you can always look for one. There are various sites, portals, forums that enable to do so without sharing your identity. So, go ahead and let go of what holds you back. Life's too short to not be your best self at all times!
"We should talk more about the power you hold, in a separate post." ,impatiently waiting for this post...