How to Stop Being Overly Emotional at Work
Have you ever reached the end of a long and tiring workday, feeling so frustrated that you ended up snapping at your children? This can happen to many, where the stress of the day spills over into family life.
Or maybe you've felt a wave of anxiety creeping in, especially when you notice that your boss or a coworker hasn't replied to one of your important messages. The wait for a response can quickly turn into a spiral of worries and fears about what might be happening.
You may also find yourself caught in a cycle of distraction caused by excessive worry. When your mind is consumed with thoughts of what could go wrong, it becomes nearly impossible to concentrate on the tasks at hand.
If these scenarios resonate with you, it highlights how normal it is to go through a mix of emotions, sometimes all in the same day. Feeling overwhelmed can lead to a temptation to shove those feelings aside, pushing on with daily responsibilities without giving yourself time to process what you're experiencing.
Avoiding emotions can feel like trying to keep a beach ball underwater. No matter how hard you try, that ball will eventually pop back up. While you might manage to keep it submerged for a while, it only adds to your stress. When you finally ease your grip, the ball shoots to the surface, often creating chaos around you.
For those who are sensitive and high achievers, known as sensitive strivers, the struggle with managing emotions can be particularly challenging.
They often find themselves expending great energy pretending everything is fine while struggling internally with their feelings. Conversely, letting emotions take full control can lead to chaos and fatigue.
Finding a middle ground is crucial. This means learning to accept your feelings and finding better ways to manage them.
Emotions, like the weather, are always there. They are part of life, whether we want them to be or not. It is important to recognize and understand these feelings, but they don’t have to dictate your actions.
Just like you wouldn’t cancel plans because of bad weather, you can learn to accept your emotions without letting them derail your day. Treat your emotional landscape as you would the weather—acknowledge it and adjust your plans accordingly.