There’s a cultural idea that some “feelings are bad” and we tend to push or run away from negative ones fairly quickly, usually because of the discomfort we feel when facing them. The reality is that in order to live a more fulfilling and purposeful life, we must be able to roll with the punches and be adaptable. Without negative feelings we can’t truly relish positive ones.

In these times of pandemic, many of us are feeling on the fence with so much uncertainty around us; our worlds have truly been turned upside down in many ways. Yet, this poses an excellent opportunity to reflect on how emotions, especially negative ones, can add to our lives by becoming our teachers and protectors.

Here are some common negative emotions and the lessons they could possibly bring with them:

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SADNESS ->  pinpoint and correct past decisions
FEAR -> warn us about danger, real or imagined
ANXIETY -> anticipate pitfalls, motivate
DESPAIR -> need time and space to rest and recover
DISAPPOINTMENT -> self-acceptance, live and let live
GRIEF -> gratitude

All emotions cause stress, even the positive ones such as love, joy and passion.

Finding a grain of truth in each of these negative emotions and using them to your advantage, can boost your creative problem-solving and motivate you to action.