You DO NOT have to handle your emotions.

Today I stumbled upon yet another post where a fellow human was referring to the practice of tending to our emotions using the word HANDLE.

It is my pet peeve, like the word DEAL WITH; they are harsh and don’t reflect the kind of care our emotional landscapes need.

Nothing needs to be handled or dealt with—it sounds like leaving a child in a corner if they’re “acting out”—but we can navigate them instead. 

Navigate, what a beautiful verb. It reminds us that emotions are temporary like the weather at sea; unpredictable like storms; strong like the wind; untamable like waves; full of surprises, like deep ocean waters.

So friends, this is your friendly reminder to re consider your words. Now, how do you navigate your emotions as a human being in this complex world? How does it compare to “handling” or “dealing with” them?

Creativity & Language, English, Rest

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About the Author

Ely Bakouche

I'm Ely, pronounced Ellie, or /eli/ if you speak phonetics. I'm the maker behind EB's Notebook, where I explore what life and work can look like for myself and fellow creative entrepreneurs once we remove toxic productivity messages and competition. You will not find "hustle harder" slogans here. Click 'about' to learn more about this space and my 'why' behind it.

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