Permission to Feel: Overcoming the Fear of Vulnerability

Many of us grow up hearing things like, “Don’t cry, it’ll make you feel worse” or “Keep your emotions in check.” Over time, we learn to push our feelings down, to put on a brave face, and to hide our pain from the world. But grief has a way of bringing all those emotions to the surface, demanding to be felt.

Giving yourself permission to feel is one of the hardest—and most important—parts of healing. It can be scary to let those emotions out. You might worry that they’ll overwhelm you, or that others will judge you for being “too emotional.” But the truth is, bottling up your feelings doesn’t make them go away—it only makes them heavier.

When you allow yourself to feel, you create space for healing. That doesn’t mean you have to share your deepest emotions with everyone you know. Start small. Find someone you trust—someone who can sit with you in your vulnerability without judgment or pressure.

Grief is messy, but it’s also human. Give yourself permission to feel it all. And if you need someone to walk with you through those emotions, I’m here to help.