Managing your Feelings: How to tell yourself the truth.

When we begin to truly define what we feel and why we feel that way, we take the first step in controlling our emotions; not by denial or snapping out of it, but by allowing ourselves to feel what we are feeling without leaning on it.

~Munachimso

On here for vulnerability, so here goes nothing.

In the last two weeks, I've been particularly overwhelmed with sadness, for so many reasons. It made me not feel God's presence around me. Not because He wasn't there, but because I was so immersed in what I was feeling to acknowledge God's presence around me. The devil did try to fill my mind with negative words, not knowing that I have already renewed my mind with God's word. So even when I don't see Him or feel it, I know God's right here with me, even in the middle.

One way to handle sadness or negative feelings is truly admitting to yourself whatever it is you are feeling. Allow yourself to have those feelings. God is not angry with you that you feel bad, sad, or down. He understands your innermost desires even when you don't voice them out. You don't have to force yourself to be who you are not, nor do you have to force yourself to feel some type of way that you really are not when you want to be with or talk to God. You can be real with God, utterly vulnerable to Him without holding back or being scared of being judged to be weak; and even if you are shying away from being real with God, He knows you already, from the insides, and the little details of your everyday life. And just so you know, it is okay to take breaks in life when you need it. Take some days off to breathe and give yourself space to heal.

I saw a quote a few days ago, "Opportunities come disguised as responsibilities. Embracing responsibilities helps you discover your true abilities. People who run away from work (responsibilities) never realize their worth (abilities). Remember, the grape needs to be under pressure for the juice to come out" ~Mr. Okey. One thing I'm good at doing when I start feeling overwhelmed is taking breaks, long or short. Sometimes, I completely cut myself off from any form of external pressure (responsibilities) for a while, give myself space to unwind before going back to work.

Science has proven this a great way to boost brain function. It also applies to reading for examination. Read all you can, but make sure to have a good long sleep the night before the examinations to have a fresher memory. Embrace responsibilities, anticipate failure because what you don' fail at, you can' learn. Begin to see problems as challenges and obstacles as opportunities. But most importantly, don't forget to retreat for self-care. Give yourself time and space to rest before your body forces you to at the most inconvenient time.

A diamond ore undergoes intense pressure and high temperatures to come out refined and glistering. A star undergoes a much higher pressure and temperatures, with so many chemical, atomical, and physical changes to become the shining star we admire. When you begin to feel like you are under so much pressure to get the right things done, when you begin to feel overwhelmed with responsibilities of life, I hope you remember that all that pressure is prepping the diamond inside of you and that amazing bright star about to shine forth God's greatness and glory all over the earth, unapologetically!