Big Feelings, Emotional Growth, and Mental Health

What if what we see is only part of the story? When I was younger, I remember being called "sensitive" and "moody." I learned to view those words as negative. They described something other people observed, but they didn't necessarily describe everything that was happening underneath. There were feelings. Thoughts. Reactions. Things I didn't yet have words for. Things I didn't know how to explain. And, like most kids, I didn't always have the tools to understand what was happ

Many people wonder if big feelings mean you are "too sensitive," "overly emotional," or "not resilient enough." Big feelings aren't a sign of weakness. They are part of how our minds and bodies respond to stress, pressure, change, disappointment, and even excitement about things we care about deeply.

I often use the phrase "It's what you do with them that matters" in my BIG Feelings work. This simple reminder captures something essential: feelings themselves aren't the problem. It's how we interpret and act on them that shapes our experiences.