Talking to someone about how you’re feeling can help you sort through your feelings, put things in perspective, and release tension. The person you speak with might also suggest options that you had not thought about before.
Everyone goes through tough times, and no matter how long you’ve had something on your mind – whether for just a few hours or months – it’s important that you talk to someone about it. You don’t have to confront your setbacks alone.
If you’re a procrastinator by nature, what steps can you take to combat this? You can say something like, “I will limit my time on Facebook and Twitter.” If you’re disorganised, you could say “I will start using a calendar to track deadlines”.
Let people know that they can be honest with you. If someone thinks they need to walk on eggshells around you, they’ll likely hold things in – but those things will come out eventually, if not in words, in resentful actions.
A lot of drama comes from poor communication and confusion. Eliminate it by finding the courage to say exactly what you mean. It may be harder in the moment, but it can save a lot of heartache in the long run.
“Drama comes about because of either misunderstanding or overreaction. Be as honest and open in all cases as possible. Quell your own negative emotions, which will in turn diffuse the negative emotions of others.” – Vito Ruiz
“If I have an issue with someone I go straight to them to talk about it, and I don’t talk to anyone else about it if they aren’t involved. Gossip breeds drama!” – Kristie Sherman
If you don’t want to change how often you see someone who makes you feel stressed, recognise drama triggers. When the conversation moves toward their favourite horrible situation, steer it somewhere else.
Take an inventory of which people in your life leave you feeling stressed and unhappy more often than not. If you don’t want to completely remove a toxic relationship, minimise the time you spend together.
If revenge has been eating away at you for some time, forgiveness will help you to finally let go.