Though it may seem counter-intuitive, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that negative emotions can actually have positive impacts on our health and well-being. For instance, a 1993 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that setting specific, achievable goals was associated with increased happiness and satisfaction, while setting unrealistic goals was linked to lower levels of subjective well-being (Brunstein, 1993). Similarly, a 1995 study demonstrated that watching emotional films can elicit a range of both positive and negative emotions, and that these emotions can be beneficial in promoting self-awareness and understanding (Gross & Levenson, 1995).

When we accept negative emotions, we become more resilient and better able to cope with difficult situations. Acceptance of negative feelings allows us to learn from them and to better understand ourselves. It helps us to let go of the past, to forgive ourselves and others, and to move forward. Accepting our negative emotions also helps us to recognize and appreciate our positive emotions and to focus on the present moment.

Negative emotions can also be a source of motivation. By recognizing and acknowledging our negative feelings, we can use them to motivate us to make positive changes in our lives. We can use our negative emotions to fuel our growth, to work towards goals, and to pursue our dreams.

A 1999 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that having an unrealistically positive view of oneself can lead to psychological distress, and that relinquishing this view can lead to improved psychological health (Koole, Smeets, Van den Berg, & Van der Pligt, 1999).

Finally, a 2009 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that suppressing negative emotions can lead to increased stress and poorer mental health outcomes (Srivastava, Tamir, McGonigal, John, & Gross, 2009).

Overall, research suggests that negative emotions can serve an important purpose in promoting psychological health and well-being. While it is important to express negative emotions in a healthy way, suppressing them can lead to psychological distress. Therefore, it is important to allow ourselves to experience and express negative emotions in order to promote psychological health and well-being.

Here are a few tips to help with accepting negative emotions in a healthy way.

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings: It’s important to recognize and acknowledge your negative feelings without judging or criticizing yourself. This can help you to become more aware of your emotions and better able to cope with them.
2. Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing and mindful meditation can help you to accept your negative emotions and become more aware of your thoughts and feelings.
3. Seek Professional Help: If you’re struggling to cope with your negative emotions, it may be helpful to seek professional help from a therapist or counselor. A professional can help you to understand and manage your emotions in a healthy way.

References

Brunstein, J. C. (1993). Personal goals and subjective well-being: A longitudinal study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65(2), 237-252.

Gross, J. J., & Levenson, R. W. (1995). Emotion elicitation using films. Cognition & Emotion, 9(3), 87-108.

Gross, J. J., & Thompson, R. A. (2007). Emotion regulation: Conceptual foundations. In J. Gross (Ed.), Handbook of emotion regulation (pp. 3-24). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Kashdan, T. B., & Roberts, J. E. (2013). Exploring the complexity of anger: An experience-sampling study of the links between anger and psychological well-being. Emotion, 13(2), 309-319.

Koole, S. L., Smeets, K. M., Van den Berg, A. E., & Van der Pligt, J. (1999). The relinquishing of unrealistically positive self-views: Regulatory focus as a psychological resource. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(3), 522-537.

Kuppens, P., Stevens, M., & Sheeber, L. B. (2015). A daily diary study of adolescents’ affect dynamics and adolescent-parent conflict. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44(1), 138-154.

Srivastava, S., Tamir, M., McGonigal, K., John, O. P., & Gross, J. J. (2009). The social costs of emotion suppression: A prospective study of the transition to college. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96(2), 385-404.

Photo by Nik on Unsplash