7 Ways To Clear Yourself Of Negative Emotions

How to deal with negative emotions

Whether it’s choosing to eat an extra slice of cake, or deciding to apply for a new job, our emotions affect everything we do. If we are to live life to the fullest, and approach our daily tasks in a positive way, we must care for our emotional health.

Having good emotional health means we are able to manage our emotions, thoughts and feelings. We can make better decisions and navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience. Building your emotional health enables you to feel at peace with yourself. You will enjoy more meaningful personal relationships, and move forward in life with a sense of purpose.

Being emotionally healthy doesn’t mean that life will be plain sailing. Our emotional health is dynamic, responding to what’s going on around us, our physical health, and countless other things. It’s ok to have ups and downs — in fact that’s totally normal! (See related article: Are emotions universal?)

But sometimes we experience negative feelings that don’t serve us in the long run. What’s more, negative emotions can have a detrimental effect on our health and wellbeing. So how do we get rid of them?

Here are 7 ways to clear yourself of negative emotions, so you can live life the way you want.

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1. Acknowledge the feeling

If you’re feeling blue, don’t try to hide from the feeling, or distract yourself by turning to unhealthy food, TV, or social media. While these might numb the pain for a while, you won’t have resolved the issue. By acknowledging, and accepting negative feelings, you can start to get curious about what’s causing them, and how you can move forwards.

2. Breathe deeply

If you find yourself feeling angry, or frustrated, or unable to fall asleep thanks to the thoughts running through your mind, try breathing. Yes, something as simple as taking a few deep breaths in and out can help to calm the mind, and lower blood pressure.

3. Take a break

Feeling overwhelmed by the task at hand? Take a time out. Even if you have a deadline bearing down on you, taking a few minutes to walk outside, get some fresh air and collect your thoughts can help you return with renewed energy.

4. Let it all out

A great way to release negative emotions is to let them out through movement. Let go of negative energy with a vigorous spin class, or a run through the park, or welcome positive energy into your life by dancing to your favorite song. Even a leisurely walk can help clear the mind and replace negative feelings with something more positive. Check out our mood lifting workout here.

5. Do something that lights you up

Do you love to paint? Sing? Read? Spend time with friends? If you find negative emotions creeping into your life, try doing something that you can get lost in, and you’ll soon feel more like the real you. (Try our indoor hobby ideas for promoting emotional wellness.)

6. Journal your feelings

Journaling can be a wonderful way to process negative thoughts. By taking a few minutes each day to write down your thoughts, you can start to work through your difficult feelings, and take ownership of your response. If you find it tricky to get started, try focusing on a few things you feel grateful for, rather than ruminating over things that aren’t going so well. Studies show that practicing gratitude can help improve our emotional wellbeing.[1]

7. Show yourself compassion

Finally, if life deals you a tough hand, don’t be too hard on yourself. Allow yourself to have the full experience of emotions. Notice what has triggered the negative feelings, but don’t judge yourself for having them. Think about what you would say to a friend in the same situation — and be your own best friend!

For more tips on strengthening your sense of emotional wellness, check out our tips on how to improve your confidence, and how to improve your emotional health.

[1] James Ducharme (Time, 2017). 7 Surprising health benefits of gratitude.

And if you’d like to explore the power of plants and flowers to support your personal journey towards greater emotional health, why not find out more about Bach® Original Flower Remedies. With 38 natural remedies, you can create your own individual remedy to work in harmony with your body to help clear away those negative emotions.*

Check out more articles below! Or learn more about bringing nature into your home, finding confidence at work, and feeling more confident making decisions.