"الأحزان الوحيدة التي تكون خطيرة وغير صحية هي تلك التي نحملها علنًا لنغرقها بالضجيج."

Carrying around sadness in public and drowning it out with noise isn't the healthiest way to deal with it. We've all been there—feeling a bit down and trying to distract ourselves by immersing in the hustle and bustle around us. The idea here is that some sadnesses are better handled internally and privately rather than masked by external chaos. When we do this, we risk ignoring our emotions rather than processing and addressing them.

Historically, this perspective has roots in many philosophies and psychological viewpoints. For example, the ancient Stoics emphasized the importance of inner peace and dealing with one's emotions through introspection. They believed that true contentment comes from within, not from external distractions. Likewise, in modern psychology, it's well-understood that while distraction can be a short-term coping mechanism, it’s not a sustainable solution. Allowing ourselves to truly feel and work through our emotions is crucial for long-term mental health.

Imagine a well-known scenario: Sarah, a young professional, is dealing with the grief of losing a close friend. Instead of taking time to grieve privately, she throws herself into work and social events, trying to keep herself constantly busy. She attends every party, takes on extra projects, and never gives herself a moment to sit with her thoughts. On the surface, she seems fine—she’s smiling, she’s productive—but inside, the sadness is just festering. It’s like a wound that never gets cleaned and dressed; it might eventually become infected.

In real life, this approach could look like someone losing themselves in their work or social life to avoid dealing with a breakup. They might spend every night out drinking with friends, constantly seeking out new activities to keep their mind off the heartache. But by doing this, they’re just prolonging the inevitable need to confront and heal from their pain.

To apply this wisdom, give yourself permission to feel your emotions privately. It’s okay to take a step back from the noise and just sit with your feelings. Journaling can be a powerful tool. Write down what you’re feeling, dig deep into why, and allow yourself to process these emotions without the need to put on a brave face for the world. Meditation and mindfulness exercises can also help you tune into your internal state and address it head-on.

Think about a time you were really upset but kept it to yourself. Maybe you put on a brave face for your family or friends, pretending everything was okay. Remember how exhausting that was? Now, imagine if you'd given yourself the space to really feel those emotions, to cry if you needed to, to talk to someone you trusted. It might have been hard at the moment, but in the long run, you’d probably feel a lot lighter.

So, next time you’re grappling with sadness, resist the urge to drown it out with noise. Find a quiet place, open up a journal, or talk it out with a close friend. It might be uncomfortable at first, but it’s a crucial step towards true emotional health. We can't heal what we don't acknowledge—and the first step to acknowledgment is giving ourselves the space to truly feel.