For each one of us, we will find a time when we feel the need to confront or speak up about things we have not expressed. This may be an issue or a topic we had with a friend, a supervisor, a partner, a larger group or entity, or a conflict within ourselves. We get to the point where we no longer ignore it.

It is an interesting process, because sometimes, having held onto an issue for a while, it intensifies when we want to express it. We start talking or processing and realize we have deeper feelings than we thought. These feelings may be positive or negative. Still, just scratching the surface of the feelings, releases something we didn’t know existed.

Holding on to complex emotions can have other repercussions as well. I have been known to lose sleep over unresolved conflicts or feelings. The issues can creep into our days and make our ability to concentrate more challenging. Whatever the feelings/conflicts/issues are, they distress us until we can resolve them.

If we want to be able to help other people through these all-too-human struggles, we need to first be able to resolve our own. We have the capacity. It only takes a little courage and willingness to not be afraid of our own emotions, whatever they are.