How Do You Feel Today?
Acknowledge Today’s Mood
This first question, which in some countries is a common greeting, now seems more of a protocol than a truly genuine inquiry.
In fact, in many European countries, I have often noticed that so-called "negative" emotional states seem to be banned from public discourse in favor of a falsely cheerful appearance.
It is much easier, and socially accepted, to respond with "I'm fine" or "I'm doing well," even when the inner reality doesn't match this affirmation. Wouldn't it be unnatural to refuse to accept that negative state, which is also part of human complexity?
And yet, what if, instead of rejecting or masking our emotions, we started by accepting them as they are, without judgment and primarily for ourselves?
How Are You Really Feeling Today?
So, how are you really feeling today? I'm fine…
To the question "how are you?", the most socially acceptable answer is often a positive affirmation.
However, admitting that we're not feeling well can be seen as a failure, even a weakness. In a world where the appearance of happiness and productivity is the norm, acknowledging discomfort becomes almost a reprehensible act. But why is that?
Social media, cultural norms, and even professional expectations push us to hide our emotions when we're not feeling our best. I've also noticed that this negative state can even be perceived as disruptive, even unnatural, as though being "fine" is a necessary condition for acceptance.
And yet, this deprives us of the chance to fully experience life and understand what lies behind our emotions.
Embrace the Negative
What if, instead of desperately wanting to "feel better," we simply accepted not being at our best today? Accepting a state of discomfort does not mean giving up the desire to improve, but rather acknowledging a reality. I’m even convinced that this is an essential first step toward real change.
So-called negative emotions like sadness, frustration, anxiety, or even anger are an integral part of our human experience. They are even powerful indicators of aspects of our lives that need special attention in order to achieve a better self, healing, or even just to grant ourselves a moment of reflection.
So, rather than fleeing from them, why not observe them? Why not accept them, even temporarily, and give them the space they deserve?
Moving Forward
Accepting that we're going through a difficult period today could be the first step toward well-being.
Just because we’re not feeling our best one day doesn’t mean it questions our worth or our ability to succeed. On the contrary, taking the time to listen to ourselves, to accept ourselves, to feel, and to understand what we are going through could be the key to moving forward more peacefully.
And what if, instead of seeing these negative emotions as obstacles, we considered them as necessary allies for our growth? After all, without these emotions, it would be impossible for us to appreciate serenity and inner peace.
Today, I invite you to stop for a moment and honestly answer the question: how are you really feeling? Is it okay not to feel good, not to always be at 100%?
For me, as you may have guessed, the answer is yes!
Accepting that we're not feeling great today doesn't make us failures but human beings, fully alive in all our complexity.
Thanks for reading