Every day, we face situations that can make us feel sad or angry. Instead of dealing with these feelings, we sometimes take our frustrations out on others, hurting them in the process. It’s important to recognize this pattern and find a way to manage our emotions better, maybe by creating a “mask” to help us control how we react.
Feelings are normal and can tell us a lot about how we’re doing. When someone upsets us, we might lash out at someone else, often over small things. For example, if you had a tough day at work, you might come home and snap at a loved one for something small. This isn’t fair to them, especially since everyone is facing their own challenges and difficult days, we don’t have the right to project our anger onto them and make them feel more stressed or sad. So what do we mean by wearing a mask? Wearing a “mask” means finding a way to manage our feelings before they overflow. This mask helps us filter our emotions so we can respond to others with kindness rather than anger or sadness.
You might ask how we can create this mask:
- Recognize Your Feelings: Take a moment to identify what you’re feeling. Are you sad or angry?
- Pause Before Reacting: Before you say or do something, take a deep breath. Ask yourself if your feelings match the situation.
- Communicate Calmly: If you need to talk to someone about an issue, do it calmly. Use “I” statements to express your feelings without blaming others.
- Take Care of Yourself: Go for a walk, practice mindfulness or any kind of activities that can help you relax and process your emotions.
Remember, it’s okay to feel emotions, but how we express them matters. By taking charge of our emotions, we create a kinder environment for ourselves and those around us.