We all tend to put emotions into categories of “good” and “bad.” We try very hard to create lives that are full of the “good” ones and void of the “bad” ones. We say things like “turn that frown upside down” and “focus on the positive” and encourage ourselves and others to replace the bad feelings with good ones. But something I am learning is that there really aren’t “bad” emotions. All emotions have specific purposes. Sure, some emotions aren’t as fun to feel. We all want to feel good all the time. But I propose that if we will embrace the harder to feel emotions, and not shove them away when they come, we can learn to live in the tension of both. We can learn that it is in the experience of embracing them all that we are able to learn and heal and grow. And we’ll realize that just because we have one doesn’t mean we can’t have another at the exact same time. That we can have laughter AND tears. You don’t have to set one aside for the other. This is what I’ve been learning in my journey through grief. It’s hard, but it’s healing.
Sitting in the tension of emotions.
Sitting in the Tension 
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