Ideas for managing hard feelings

Hard feelings like sadness, frustration, or anxiety are a natural part of life, and learning how to manage them is a vital skill. The Managing Hard Feelings tool offers practical strategies to process and cope with their emotions constructively.

How to use the tool

• Normalize Hard Feelings
  • Begin by discussing how everyone experiences difficult emotions and that it’s okay to feel this way.
  • Use the poster to introduce strategies such as talking to friends, journaling, or engaging in a comforting routine.
• Encourage Reflection and Awareness
  • Help identify feelings:
    • Use prompts like:
      • “What are you feeling right now?”
      • “What triggered this emotion?”
    • Write down answers in a journal to externalize emotions.
• Explore Coping Strategies
  • Try different strategies from the poster:
    • Talk to friends: Encourage open conversations to share their feelings.
    • Do something nice for yourself: Suggest small self-care acts, like enjoying a favorite snack or taking a walk.
    • Self-soothe with a comforting routine: Help them create routines like listening to calming music or wrapping up in a cozy blanket.
• Practice Positive Self-Talk
  • Reframe thinking and practice self-compassion:
    • Prompts: “Remind yourself that this feeling won’t last forever.” “What would you say to a friend going through this?”
    • Encourage affirmations such as, “I tried something hard, and that was brave.”
• Encourage Growth and Connection
  • Highlight the value of seeking support:
    • Share a reminder that asking for help from a trusted adult or peer is a strength.
    • Encourage focusing on hobbies or relationships that bring joy and fulfillment.
  • Reflect on lessons learned from challenging emotions to promote growth.

Benefits of using the tool

• Emotional Regulation: Teaches strategies to process and cope with feelings constructively.
• Self-Compassion: Encourages kindness toward oneself during tough times.
• Resilience: Builds strength to navigate emotional challenges and recover more effectively.
• Communication: Fosters connection through sharing emotions with trusted people.

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