When I was a child if I was hot I would wear light clothing and make a paper fan, there was no air conditioning. If I was cold I would put on warmer clothes as we had no central heating just a little (now possibly considered dangerous) kerosene heater we would put our hands over to keep warm.

Being too hot in summer and cold in winter was considered part of life. Before air conditioning and adequate heating many generations managed the changes in temperature.

While I have learnt to accept physical feelings, I have found emotional feelings to be difficult.

At various times in my life, I have tried to handle difficult feelings by eating, drinking, avoiding, over spending or denying them.

There are going to be times in life when we feel uncomfortable and often there is not a simple solution but learning how to cope with these feeling may help.

One of the mental health strategies is teaching people how to deal with unpleasant feelings.

Developing qualities such as self-awareness, motivation, empathy, and taking responsibility for one's feelings will help understand other people's emotions and one's own.

When it is appropriate, just allowing the discomfort to pass knowing that it will go away.

As Jean Kerr said "Hope is the feeling that the feeling you have isn't permanent.'

In a world of air conditioning central heating, instant gratification, it is hard to learn to just sit and wait.

Of course if a feeling is very negative and possibly dangerous one would need to get help.

I am talking about learning to cope with uncomfortable or awkward feelings without resorting to food or drugs and alcohol, over spending or other strategies.

Creating situations with positive feelings will enable you to follow your passion and feel good about doing something you have always wanted to do.

How do you cope with uncomfortable feelings?

Have you tried sitting and waiting or developing your emotional intelligences?

How would you teach young children how to handle uncomfortable feelings?

Leah

A Moodscope member.