Here's today's feel-good story:
The pressure to feel good can make us feel bad, but according to new research embracing your darker moods will help you feel good in the long run.
“We found that people who habitually accept their negative emotions experience fewer negative emotions, which adds up to better psychological health,” said Iris Mauss, an associate professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and study senior author.
“Maybe if you have an accepting attitude toward negative emotions, you’re not giving them as much attention,” Mauss said. “And perhaps, if you’re constantly judging your emotions, the negativity can pile up.”
The study showed that those who commonly resist acknowledgment of their darker emotions or judge themselves harshly for it can end up being more stressed.