I used to believe that showing my feelings meant weakness.
For most of my adult life, I stuffed down every emotion I thought was “bad,” “embarrassing,” or would put a negative light on me.
When those feelings bubbled up, I’d shame myself. I told myself I was stronger for not showing them. And I looked down on others who wore their emotions on their sleeves.
I thought I was in control.
But the truth was, I was being controlled—by fear, by self-judgment, by the belief that emotions were dangerous.
And it worked… until it didn’t.
The Truth About Suppressed Emotions
Eventually, I couldn’t hold it all in anymore.
Those feelings I refused to acknowledge started eating me up inside. They fueled the negative self-talk that looped in my mind, telling me I was “less than,” “unworthy,” and “weak.”
I had to learn—slowly, painfully—that feeling my feelings wasn’t dangerous.
Trying to keep them hidden was.
When I finally reached out for help, I stripped away the distractions and coping mechanisms that kept me from facing how I truly felt.
It was terrifying. I felt exposed, raw, and fragile.
At first, I thought I couldn’t handle it. The emotions overwhelmed me, and my anxiety spiked. But I was encouraged to breathe through them, to sit with them, and to talk with others who understood.
Even then, I tried to keep up appearances.
I remember sitting in a support group, listening to another woman share her truth, and recognizing my own story in hers. My eyes filled with tears, but I fought to keep them hidden.
A friend noticed. She placed a gentle hand on my knee and said, “It’s OK to be sad.”
It was the first time anyone had given me permission to just… feel.
So I let go. And I cried.
The Power of Feeling Out Loud
That moment changed me.
I realized that suppressing my feelings wasn’t strength—it was isolation.
Over time, I learned that sharing my feelings—when safe and appropriate—allowed me to connect with others. It helped me release the weight I carried alone.
I gave others permission to feel their feelings, too.
I discovered that when we let ourselves feel out loud, we remind others that they’re not alone.
Your Feelings Deserve Space
There’s nothing wrong with having feelings—sadness, fear, anger, joy, love.
But there’s something deeply harmful in denying them.
When we stuff them down, they don’t disappear.
They fester, attaching themselves to other experiences, or exploding when we least expect it.
Letting your feelings out is not a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of honesty. It’s a way of staying connected to your truth.
Feel your feelings. Feel them out loud. Let them move through you, and then let them go.
SLAY on.
SLAY OF THE DAY: Reflect & Rise
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Do you share your feelings, or do you keep them bottled up?
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If you don’t, what holds you back?
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If you do, how does it feel afterward?
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Have you always been open with your feelings, or was there a time you hid them?
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What changed?
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What feelings do you still struggle to show?
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What might happen if you let them out today?
Find the courage to feel, SLAYER.
Let your feelings out. Let them go.
Free yourself from the weight you’ve been carrying.
Call to Action: Join the Conversation
I’d love to hear from you.
What feelings do you find hardest to express, and what’s one small step you can take today to give those feelings space?
Share your story in the comments. Let’s support each other in honoring our emotions.
And if you know someone who might need a reminder that it’s OK to feel out loud, send this to them.
Sometimes, a gentle nudge is all we need to step into our truth.
