Our feelings, an important part of being human, are here to help us but not control us. It’s easy to base our self-esteem on how we feel. (“I feel worthless, so clearly I must be worthless.”) But our feelings shift and they don’t always reflect reality. Sometimes I don’t feel thirsty but really need to drink some water. Or sometimes I feel helpless but there are actually steps I can take.

Please don’t put yourself down for having negative feelings about yourself. Instead, have a little talk with yourself to acknowledge the feelings, and gently remind yourself that feelings aren’t always accurate. This is something you already know—you just might need a nudge to remember it. And then a brief body break might be helpful: a strong mint, an icy cloth on your forehead, a little stretch, a short walk outside.  

Know that God loves you, always, just as you are. And feel free to email me any time: Mary.Brown@SilenceBrokenNow.org.

Feelings can change, like sand in a desert.
Photo by Keith Hardy on Unsplash