|
Feelings Have you noticed
that our feelings and emotions can be really off this planet at times??? They
can be really strong and really hard to handle. Sometimes we can be so sad, or
REALLY angry and sometimes we're crazily happy happy happy!!!! Such strong
emotions can be hard to keep under control. Especially if someone has said or
done something to hurt us and we don't know how to handle it. It can be really
hard trying to tell someone that they've hurt us or to talk to someone about how
we're really feeling. One way of helping to deal with your emotions is
to keep a journal - not a diary in which you write down your daily activities
and usual stuff - but a journal that you may write in only occasionally to outline
your deepest thoughts and feelings when you need to. You can put into a journal
all those angry things you're feeling about what may have happened - and that
you would never actually dream of saying aloud to someone! Or you can write some
poetry if you're feeling a little sad. Maybe you could copy in some inspirational
quotes or messages - reading them may help you feel better. Physically writing
your feelings down can really help to sort your ideas out. A
word of caution though - if you don't want anyone to read this journal or would
be SO embarrassed if someone did, then you're going to need to keep it in a very
special place. Diaries and journals do seem to get into the 'wrong hands' now
and then - especially if you have brothers and sisters around! One option might
be to destroy the pages you've written with your deepest thoughts on, once you've
worked through them, then they've been 'released' from you, but are still safe.
Another option is to talk to someone you really trust and
respect - maybe a parent or care-giver or a really close friend. Someone that
you know will really listen to you and be able to give you some good advice. A
trouble shared is a trouble halved as they say, and sometimes simply getting something
off your chest makes you feel a whole lot better. Your school counsellor, or Guide
Leader could also be a good person to talk to if you're shy of talking with someone
close. When you've fallen out with someone, communication is so important
- but you want to communicate in the best way possible, you don't want to make
things worse by just having a slanging match and not getting anywhere. Everyone
will only feel MORE miserable. Wait till you've calmed down and thought things
through - what it is you want to say? Have a rough plan of what you're going to
say and how you're going to say it. Try to use "I" sentences like "I feel ." or
"It makes me feel. when you.." This is better than using sentences like, "you
always." or "you never.". These 'you' type sentences will instantly put the other
person on the defensive, and get their back up - feelings will escalate and it
all turns to custard! If you're having a real downer of a time and life
just seems to suck, then you need to work on feeling a bit better. Sometimes we
need adult help with this - your parent, care-giver, doctor, counsellor and so
on. But there are just little things that we can try to help lift our mood. Top
tips for helping you feel Sunnier!!! - Smile - We
all get in bad moods at times, but when you want to lift yourself out of it, trying
to smile can't hurt. It's infectious after all!!!
- Try to look
for the silver lining in the cloud to shake those bad feelings. In many bad
situations, if you look hard enough, you can find something good - then you've
got to accentuate it!!!
- Spend a little time with some
mates or family who are positive and in good moods - they could help you find
your smile again.
- Sing - yep, put on your fave CD (make
it one with a bouncy beat), holler along to the lyrics and maybe do a bit of a
boogie at the same time. You'll be taking in lots of air, the catchy rhythms will
pep you up and hey, you feel a bit better!!!
- Stop and smell
the flowers - When everything in life seems bad, just stop and look at that
one little flower, or beautiful autumnal leaf or fat cat basking in the sun and
enjoy the moment. Moment by moment, things can get better.
- You
could phone Kids Line on 0800 KIDSLINE (0800 543 7540)
| 
