Don’t let your emotions eat you

I’ve always thought of myself as different from other individuals my age. People I hang around with, or maybe just anyone. Sometimes I’ve felt different even from my closest friends. I remember being self-conscious in seventh grade because I couldn’t find anyone who could connect to me or someone like me. Dramas, pointless arguments, and gossip are prevalent in this generation. I don’t enjoy those things, but luckily, I have best friends like me. I’m glad to say that I know exactly who I am and what I want and that having pride can be positive. It gives me a lot of joy to say that I am not among the many people in our time constantly torn between too many possibilities and feeling unsure of themselves. Teenagers want to have fun, and we all express our feelings loudly.

Teenagers are outgoing and love to express their emotions loudly. We also want to have fun. These traits are also present in certain people, and seeing them daily encouraged me to take a more in-depth look at our inner selves. Fake stories, pointless dramas, and unreasonable arguments are becoming more prevalent, and young people are always displaying these behaviors. Some of us have asked ourselves these questions concerning the things we see every day, especially on social media. When faced with such situations, I always ask, “What’s the point?” “Does it matter?” or “How can you possibly waste your energy and time on this?” People my age are so enthused about dramas, but when it comes to self-reflection and future planning, some will say, “It is what it is,” and then prioritize their leisure activities again. I believe this is because their emotions are controlling their judgments.

When I was in seventh grade, I was always interested in those things, too, but I realized it was wasting my time and energy. Now, when I look deeper into it, I notice it’s all coming from our emotions; we tend to react to something before we think about it. We are convinced that our emotions guide us correctly and that our morals are always proper, especially in misunderstandings. When you become overly connected to something, emotions become your worst adversary. Our thoughts and emotions are often intertwined; if we place too much emphasis on the emotional side, we risk ignoring the need for good judgment. Many people consistently support what they believe will benefit them rather than what is best for them.

People who constantly prioritize their wants but occasionally neglect their necessities are people I see a lot. To manage our points of view, accept what is beyond our control, and maintain our emotional clarity, we must practice the presence of mind. We should not try to control the things that are beyond our control. Instead, we should control the things that we need to control. Indeed, our emotions can occasionally take control of us, but if we allow our minds to maintain balance, that can be avoided. As they once stated, “Think before you act.” We don’t need to overcomplicate matters. We should see negativities and painful situations as a training ground for us to grow stronger so we can be better progressively, and like they said, “no pain, no gain.” The world doesn’t choose your missions and challenges; it’ll all come naturally, but you’re the only one who can manage your emotions and what you see in life. Acknowledge other people’s impact on your life and the function of a support system.

Ultimately, you are in charge. Are we ethical? Of course, we should be. Morals and ethics should be in harmony, like the heart and mind.

Emotion must be tempered by thought and thought must be tempered by emotion. Like judgment without compassion, feeling without conscience is harmful. Pushing for deep understanding is not hard; you must understand your feelings before you can understand others, but this doesn’t mean you should always think about yourself. Even if you disagree with someone, you should still try to understand them because everything will make sense when you look deeper—especially if you can identify the underlying source of their feelings. Instead of focusing on what other people think of us, we should observe their feelings. To stop fussing about small matters, try being realistic and accepting how others see things. Develop a feeling of grounded and inner strength; we only need ourselves. No one else should control our emotions; you are the creator of your current state of mind and self-perception. Remain compassionate and defend what’s right. People don’t need to know how you feel about yourself.

Ysabelle Bitanga, 17, is a naturally curious teenager who loves to explore the subtleties of human behavior.