The Power of Honest Emotions, And Why Suppressing Them Isn’t Strength

You Don’t Need to Suppress Your Emotions to Be Strong

Have you ever felt like you had to push every feeling down just to keep going? I used to think strength meant never letting my guard down, never admitting how deeply I felt things. But I’ve learned that real strength doesn’t come from pretending everything is fine.

Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is let yourself feel without letting it take over your life.

We often confuse mental strength with constant positivity, endless hustle, or emotional detachment. But true mental strength is something quieter, more honest, and deeply rooted.

I’ve been there, too, holding everything in, wearing a brave face while my insides were a tangled mess of fear and pain. But that wasn’t strength. That was survival.

Real strength found me when I got honest with myself, when I let my heart speak, and when I realized that strength isn’t about having it all together. It’s about showing up as I am.

Here’s how I’ve come to see mental strength:

Feeling Hard Emotions
Sadness. Anger. Fear. Disappointment.
Strength doesn’t mean you push these feelings away.
It means you let them in and still take the next step forward.
You can feel deeply and remain grounded.
You can break down and still be whole.

Choosing Self-Compassion
That inner critic can be loud:
“You should be over this by now.”
“Why can’t you handle more?”
“Everyone else seems to be doing fine.”
But beating yourself up doesn’t make you stronger, it only makes you smaller.
Talk to yourself with kindness. Strength grows best where softness lives.

Setting Boundaries
Saying no. Speaking up. Walking away when you need to.
Not because you want to hurt others, — but because you want to protect your own peace.
It’s uncomfortable at first, but mental strength is choosing what’s hard today to protect what matters most tomorrow.

Letting Go of Control
Trying to manage every outcome.
Overthinking every conversation.
Trying to fix everyone else’s emotions.
Attempting to maneuver how others see you.

Sigh...it’s exhausting.

Strength is knowing what’s yours to carry and releasing what’s not.  Can I get an amen on that?? 

Letting go doesn’t mean giving up. It means choosing peace over pressure.

Letting Go of Control
Trying to manage every outcome.
Overthinking every conversation.
Trying to fix everyone else’s emotions.
Attempting to maneuver how others see you.

Sigh...it’s exhausting.

Strength is knowing what’s yours to carry and releasing what’s not.  Can I get an amen on that?? 

Letting go doesn’t mean giving up. It means choosing peace over pressure.

Reclaiming Your Strength
Mental strength isn’t about being unshakable.
It’s about being real, and rising anyway.

Take a moment to pause.
Breathe.
Ask yourself: Am I being strong, or just silent?

You don’t have to prove anything to anyone.
But you can choose to show up for yourself in a gentler, braver way.

As Brené Brown wisely says:
“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.”

You’re stronger than you think, and softer than you admit.

That’s not weakness. That’s power.

So for you and your healing journey. 

Peace, love, and joy, 

Rebecca Jo