Why Feeling Your Feelings Doesn't Suck as Much as You Think
Last weekend, my stomach was in knots, and my brain was throwing a full-on tantrum of anxious thoughts. I felt like a total mess.
But even in that chaos, I knew one thing: journaling would help. It always does—especially when life feels like it’s unraveling.
Now, if you’d told me to “journal your feelings” or “art it out” back when I was drowning in anger or grief, I probably would've rolled my eyes so hard they'd stay stuck (anyone else’s mom threaten that?). As someone who dodges feelings like I dodge scooping backyard dog poop, I’m here to say this: feeling your emotions is the key to not dragging them around like a heavy suitcase.
Trust me, I’ve been there. When someone (probably your therapist) suggests journaling during an emotional meltdown, the urge to chuck your notebook across the room is real. I get it (I've also been that therapist).
As a lifelong people-pleaser and pro-level self-abandoner, I spent years doing anything but sitting with my emotions. The last thing I wanted was to “explore” my feelings.
But here’s the thing: ignoring emotions doesn’t make them go away. It just adds to the mental load you're already carrying. It took me some time to figure it out, but taking even a few moments to acknowledge how I felt (instead of pretending my feelings weren’t there) helped ease that weight.
It wasn’t some magical, life-changing moment, but it made things feel a little lighter—and honestly, that’s enough.
Avoiding your emotions might feel easier in the moment, but it’s not doing you any favors long-term. Spending just a few minutes getting in touch with how you feel—through journaling or some quick digital doodles—can give you the release you're probably craving.
Motherhood doesn’t come with a pause button, and those feelings? Yeah, they just keep stacking up.
Between the never-ending to-do list, keeping tiny humans alive, and maybe—just maybe—squeezing in a shower, who has time to think about feelings?
It’s way easier to shove them down and keep going, right? I mean, what's the alternative? Actually sitting with your feelings? Pfft.
But here’s the part no one tells you: ignoring your emotions doesn’t save time or energy. It’s like lugging around a backpack that keeps getting heavier until one day, you’re like, “Wait... why is this thing so freaking heavy?”
As a recovering people-pleaser, I spent years pretending I didn’t have emotions or needs. I thought if I just kept pushing through, I’d be fine. Spoiler alert: that didn’t work.
What changed? I got tired of feeling like I was always on edge.
The stress, the frustration, the sadness—I was holding onto them like they were mine to carry forever. But the more I ignored my emotions, the more they showed up in weird ways—snapping at my partner or nearly crying over burnt toast.
So, I started trying out creative ways to let them out. It wasn’t a miracle fix, but it definitely helped.
The Science-y Part Behind Feeling The Feelings
Research shows creative expression helps your brain process emotions.
Putting feelings into words or images makes it easier to release them.
You don’t have to be “creative” or make something perfect—just start.
Even a few minutes of doodling or typing can lower stress.
It stops emotions from snowballing into something bigger.
Not a magic fix, but it beats doom-scrolling Instagram for an hour (which rarely helps, let’s be real).
The Quick & Dirty Digital Feelings Exercise for Moms
Now that I’ve rambled on about why this matters, here’s a simple way to try it out. You don’t need any fancy tools—just your phone and five minutes.
Start with a Brain Dump
Open your notes app and write out whatever’s on your mind—how your day went, what’s bugging you, or anything else you want to vent about. Don’t worry about making sense, just get it all out.Find the Feeling Words
Go back and highlight the emotions hiding in your word dump—stress, joy, exhaustion, whatever. You don’t have to analyze them, just spot them.Pick a Symbol
For each feeling, pick a simple symbol that fits—something easy like a shape or doodle.Draw Your Symbols in Freeform
Open Freeform or any drawing app and sketch out your symbols. Don’t overthink it—just express how these emotions show up for you.Move Them Around
Arrange your symbols however feels right—closer, farther apart, bigger, smaller. Play with it until it looks like a true reflection of what’s going on inside.Reflect on the Process
Step back and see how your emotions look together. If your art had a message for you, what would it say? Write it down and you’re done!
I know you’re a busy mom. I know the idea of spending even five minutes on something that isn’t on your to-do list feels like a stretch. But, I promise, giving yourself a quick creative check-in like this is a lot more freeing than avoiding those feelings. And hey, it’s faster than scrolling your feed (which, if we’re being real, never actually helps).
Feeling your feelings might not be fun, but holding onto them forever is exhausting. This little exercise can help you release some of that emotional clutter, so you can go back to doing all the things—without feeling like you’re carrying the world on your shoulders.
Are you ready to finally make yourself a priority—without the guilt?
Welcome to Motherload, a community where we embrace the messy, beautiful, and sometimes downright absurd realities of motherhood, all while carving out space for you. It’s not about having it all together, but about finding creative ways to thrive amidst the chaos.
Want to join us? Send me your email or drop a comment, and I’ll share the sign-up link. (No spam, just the good stuff—you can opt-out anytime because your choice matters!)
Curious about starting your own art journal but don’t know where to begin? Check out my Amazon storefront for a handpicked selection of beginner-friendly supplies!
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This information is for educational purposes only. Kayla cannot provide personalized advice or recommendations for your unique situation or circumstances. Therefore, nothing on this page or website should replace therapeutic recommendations or personalized advice. If you require such services, please consult with a medical or therapeutic provider to determine what's best for you. Kayla cannot be held responsible for your use of this website or its contents. Please never disregard or delay seeking medical or therapeutic treatment because of something you read or accessed through this website.
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