Thinking Through It

Thinking Through It

The Symphony of Self: Conducting Your Inner Orchestra

The Strength of Mixed Emotions

Alejandro Betancourt's avatar
Alejandro Betancourt
Oct 07, 2024
∙ Paid
Photo by cottonbro studio from Pexels.

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like." —Lao Tzu

Have you ever found yourself in a tug-of-war between conflicting emotions? Perhaps you've felt the poignant mix of pride and sadness as your child takes their first steps toward independence or the adrenaline-fueled blend of excitement and fear before a major presentation. If these scenarios strike a chord, you're in the midst of a profoundly human experience: mixed feelings.

For many of us, these intricate emotional blends are about as welcome as a hangover. We long for clarity, for the straightforwardness of knowing exactly how we feel. Society doesn't make it any easier, bombarding us with messages that portray emotional ambiguity as a sign of weakness or indecision. 'Make up your mind!' they say. 'You can't have it both ways!'

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