Sudden feelings of sadness isn’t unusual for many people. You’re feeling okay and all of a sudden you feel just down and gloomy. In this post we’ll have a look at understanding sadness in a different light so you can deal with it better. In truth, there are many ways to dealing with sadness.
This post is less about removing the sadness and more about changing your relationship to it so that you can deal with it in a better way.
Note that we’re not talking about serious depression here, and in some cases you may definitely want to get professional help.
Examining Sadness
Dealing with sadness isn’t always easy. A good place to start may be to understand what brought on the feeling and what it may be trying to say. Interestingly, this approach in itself may distance you from the intensity of the emotion and allow you take on a stance of exploration, which can help you feel better.
Slow Down
Feelings don’t usually happen in a vacuum. While it may seem like you suddenly started feeling this way, the truth is that there was probably a sequence that led to it. Maybe someone said something that made you feel unimportant or unseen. You may have not given it much consideration at the time, but it registered and it’s now making itself heard.
Slowing down and noticing that pattern may help you pinpoint the specific issue that got you feeling down. You may notice it’s related to the time of the year or day, for example, like the winter blues. Although this won’t necessarily make you feel better, it can give you insight and let you know more about your needs and the type of situations that are likely to make you feel this way and give you the opportunity to deal with what’s really bothering you.
Emotions as Teachers
Emotions can be seen as teachers. If you’re sad, your body and mind may be trying to tell you something. Have a look at this quote from Umair Haque , for example.
“The meaning of sadness is to remind us of our fragility — not just our own, but all life’s — and if we really hear that message, then a little miracle happens: fragility becomes the source of all our strength. We grow gentle, merciful, empathetic, graceful, light, free. Then we are maturing into fullness at last.”
Thinking about sadness this way can turn it into a positive phenomenon.
Are any of these steps part of your method of dealing with sadness?
Please share in the comments below.