Often times when we experience negative events or negative emotions we tend to want to steer clear of them. If we're continually feeling sad or anxious for several weeks or years and these feelings are negatively impacting our lives, we naturally want to move towards something that feels healthier. Over time, however, because these negative feelings may have impacted our lives so deeply, we may develop an equation in our minds that looks like: Anxiety and Sadness = Bad. We may feel like we need to avoid these emotions at all costs. And so the thought process becomes: I can NEVER feel sad or anxious. Well, that can be a tall order - and a high expectation at that.
There are events that happen in all of our lives that can feel upsetting or worrisome. Graduating high school or college can feel so very exciting, but it can also feel very scary because we don't know what's to come. Closing one chapter in life and opening another can feel worrisome or frightening for anyone. A breakup of a relationship can feel very sad as can the loss of a job. There will be times when it is natural to feel anxious or sad. Allow yourself to feel these emotions, even if your brain is telling you that anxiety or sadness of any kind is forbidden - or that you're somehow broken because you're upset. Just like happiness and anger, sadness and anxiety are emotions too. We are human and will feel all of them sometimes. Give yourself a break when you feel worried or sad. There are situations when these emotions are naturally called for and are healthy to feel.