Keeping in Touch with Feelings

I found this great article about dealing with negative emotions; it’s called Keeping in Touch with Feelings By C. Richard Chidester. Here is a quote from this article that I feel is very fitting with the theme of this week:

“Treat negative feelings respectfully, not guiltily. I’ve always been impressed with how open the Savior was about his negative feelings. In only one example, in 3 Nephi, we read that he is “troubled” because of Israel’s wickedness; but just a few verses later, he is saying, “My joy is full” because of the faithfulness of the people. (3 Ne. 17:14, 20.)

Many people feel that negative feelings are wrong, so they try to act as if they feel something else. The result is a double message, for it is simply impossible to express spontaneous love—or any other kind of positive emotion—under those circumstances. If the family rules allow the open and respectful expression of negative feelings… then positive feelings would flow more freely too.” http://lds.org/ensign/1979/07/keeping-in-touch-with-feelings?lang=eng&query=dealing+with+negative+emotions