Afraid if you start, you won’t stop?
Ways to let the feelings flow through you like oxygen:
- Throw a temper tantrum. Seriously. If you need to let it all out, go into a private closet, garage, office, shed, etc. Close and lock the door. Set a timer for 10 minutes and let it rip! But when the time is up, that’s it.
- Grab the tissues. Turn on a sad movie or song and cleanse those eyes until they’re empty!
- Hit a punching bag, a series of pitches in the batting cage, or a bucket of golf balls. Just make sure you do it in an appropriate place where no one else (or their property) can get hurt. You don’t want to create new problems.
- Smile. I believe it was Dr. David J. Schwartz who first asked, “Have you ever tried to be unhappy when you are smiling?” Some psychologists have found smiling can trick your brain into happiness. Your brain plays tricks on you, so turnabout is fair play here.
- Run, jump around, or dance (assuming you are healthy enough for exercise). Get the endorphins going! They’re known to relieve pain, reduce emotional stress, and increase your sense of well-being.
Princeton is tightly buttoned up. From a family of immigrants and military veterans, he learned to suppress his emotions to blend in. It also helps him appear strong, even if he doesn’t feel it. Fake it until you make it. Right?
Allowing himself to “get emotional” (cry) for just a few seconds helped him see why he felt lost and where he needed to take more decisive action. The best part about this? The more action he takes, the more confidence he has. He builds his skill, which builds his courage, which builds his success.
Waiting for your big break?
How to Free Your Emotions at Work without Damaging Your Reputation