Sitting with Hard Feelings: Building Resilience from the Inside Out
- M. Guy
- Nov 5
- 2 min read
By Violeta Dubov
From a young age, most of us learn that emotions like anger, fear, and sadness are uncomfortable -both for ourselves and for those around us. We’re also taught, often unintentionally, that these “hard” feelings can be fixed or avoided. A crying child is soothed with a lollipop. An irritable teen is distracted with funny videos.
As adults, the same pattern continues. We feel the pressure, internal and external, to stay positive, productive, and composed no matter what life throws at us. So when difficult emotions surface, we reach for the familiar quick fixes: distraction, avoidance, or numbing.
The Body Always Remembers...
There’s no denying that these strategies work in the short term. Scrolling on your phone can calm the anxiety of an upcoming test. Substances can dull the sharpness of grief. Overworking can mask feelings of inadequacy, sometimes even earning praise in the process. Staying home can protect against the sting of rejection.
But do these strategies truly make things better?
The truth is, running from our feelings doesn’t erase them. Buried emotions don’t dissolve, they grow heavier, more tangled, and more demanding with time. Suppressed feelings can strain relationships, manifest in the body as physical symptoms, and trap us in cycles that keep us stuck. One way or another, our emotions insist on being felt.
The Only Way Out Is Through
Healing begins when we stop running and lean into the chaos of our inner world. This doesn’t mean drowning in emotional overwhelm. Instead, it means making space for the parts of us that feel hurt, resentful, unloved, sad, jealous, or lost - to listen to their stories and meet them with compassion instead of judgment.
It’s natural to feel afraid of shining light into these darker corners. But you don’t have to do it alone. At Acorn & Anchor, our therapists are here to walk beside you, offering both steady support and a compassionate flashlight to guide the way.
Redefining Strength
When you choose to face your pain instead of avoiding it, powerful shifts happen:
Building Resilience from the Inside Out. Each time you sit with a hard feeling, you prove to yourself that you can handle it.
You feel more alive. Opening up to the full range of emotions makes joy, love, and connection even more vibrant.
You grow and transform. True strength comes not from outrunning pain, but from meeting your own heart with courage.
Moving Forward...
If you feel stuck but can’t quite name why, if avoidance no longer works, or if you’re simply ready to get more out of life, it may be time to look inward. Even if part of you is only considering the idea, know that you don’t have to take the first step alone.
At Acorn & Anchor, we’re here to help you slow down, feel what’s real, and discover what’s possible when you stop running and begin to listen within.
