Hi guys!

It’s ok to cry.

It’s a good thing, actually, as those little tears can magically help you to heal and get all of the bad energy out of your body and spirit. Feeling upset about your job? Just have a good cry. Down about your love life? Just cry it out. Feeling lonely, sad, frustrated, and/or angry? Guess what…go ahead and let yourself have a good cry.

I know it may seem funny or sarcastic when I say it like that, but in all honesty, I’m being completely serious. It just sounds “strange” or “funny” (or even “terrifying”) because we as a society are not used to talking like this. We don’t know how  to express our emotions openly and without shame. We’re afraid of seeming weak, of seeming less than what we really are. We don’t want to let others in (or to let ourselves out), and so most of the time our guard is up and our brave face is on…even when we’re already crying and screaming on the inside.

Guess what, you guys? All that internal pain and all those hidden tears can cause a whole lot of damage within us, especially if we have no way to let them out. Just as a house often needs rain gutters to direct large amounts of falling water off of the roof and away from the home’s foundation (thus helping to preserve the integrity of the house itself), our bodies likewise need a productive outlet for all of the pain and emotion that we hold within. Otherwise, the internal pressure and anguish will eventually become too much, and we will suddenly be forced to release it all at once, often in ways that are not exactly productive or helpful: acting out, screaming (on the outside), throwing something, hurting ourselves, hurting someone else (whether in word or deed), basically having an external, impromptu “show” based on the breakdown of our internal state of balance and sense of being “ok”.

So go ahead and cry. Don’t be afraid. I’m officially giving you permission to be yourself, to be human, to cry, to express emotion, to let yourself feel and, in so doing, to heal from the inside out. And after that crying session? Well, then it’s time to take ACTION! You see, crying helps most when it is used as a starting point, as a way of creating a new beginning. Cry out all the bad stuff, feel how you really feel inside, acknowledge it, own it, respect it, and give yourself room to grieve, to process emotion and reality. And afterwards, try your best to use your newfound openness and inner healing to do something positive. Think a new, different, productive thought. Take a previously impossible action. Even if it’s only one new thought, even if your action consists of the simple act of not putting yourself down as much as you did two hours before, of finding the courage to smile at someone, of getting up in the morning and feeling a little less down and a little more alive.

And, most importantly, REPEAT! Life is not an easy game, and life + crying + action is not a one-time thing. Don’t be afraid to cry regularly if you need to. And by all means, please feel free to search for additional productive ways to release your emotions and empower yourself, and don’t hesitate to embrace those methods as well (just off the top of my head, here are some good possibilities: exercise, dance, spirituality, religion, sports, music, writing, reading, spending time in nature, watching something funny — aka “funnying”, talking to a friend or a designated “good listener”, spending time with a pet, spending time with loved ones, etc.).

Don’t be afraid to express how you feel, both to yourself and others–whether you’re expressing sadness and pain, or joy and happiness and love (cuz I know that even “positive” strong emotions can also be scary for a lot of us). And most importantly, don’t ever be afraid to cry. It takes strength to be honest with yourself, to show your feelings on the outside, to acknowledge your inner truth and be brave enough to deal with it openly. Be proud of yourself and use the power of your tears to help build a new, more beautiful version of your life. :-)

Hugs and take care,

Tara

p.s. In case it helps, here are a few positive videos to help get things going in a good direction!

 

:-)