Feeling Bad about Feeling Bad

Why does it seem that being hurt, down, in pain, or whatever is frowned upon in our society? It's almost that you are not allowed to feel bad, because if you do, people start to wonder if you need professional help. For this reason, we sometimes beat ourselves up for feeling a little sad about a situation. Perhaps we think that we are being overly dramatic about what is happening in our lives at the moment. We seem to be in a society which thinks that such things should be completely done a way with. These bad feelings are hindering our happiness and we must get rid of them in order to enjoy life to the fullest. In an attempt to cure the problem, (and many times run away from the problem) we have created degrees, drugs, and numerous other methods to find a way to eradicate the hurts, pains, and depressions that everybody is subject to feel on this earth.

We are mortal people living in a temporal world that is not going to stop to help us feel better. As a matter of fact, many of the things that we experience in this life are so that we can understand the opposite. We could never experience joy if we never have gone through sadness. You could never really appreciate how spoiled you are in the United States until you see what it is like to live outside your comfortable lifestyle.

Understanding how opposition and “negative” experiences are not only a part of this life, but necessary for growth, progression, and understanding, why should we feel bad about feeling bad? The feelings that we have are real, and we do not have to get down on and beat ourselves up because we feel a little depressed or melodramatic. Sure we can try and run away from our experiences through drugs, both non-medical and prescribed, but where does that get us? Running away will just prolong the growing pains that prepare us for future events. Those who keep on running will one day find out they cannot run anymore. They will find themselves cornered against a wall with nowhere to go. The past will creep up on these cornered runners like a criminal. It will overshadow them like the darkness that swallows the sun’s rays at dusk. Such moments are where true hopelessness shows its ugly face, and every human will bow down and pray to God for the mercy they so desperately need.

So why feel bad about our bad feelings then? Instead of trying to eradicate this “negative” feelings and experiences, let us accept them. Accept that pain is a part of life, and learn from it. Don’t run away via drugs, video games, movies, idleness, sleeping, etc…The cure from “bad feelings” ultimately comes through faith, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not from running away.