Finding Joy Through Life’s Hardest Emotions
In this blog post, I’m sharing how to transform uncomfortable emotions into opportunities for growth. You’ll discover how to identify sadness, fear, anger, disgust, hopeless despair, and shame, how to connect with supportive relationships to process them, and how to create a life anchored in joy, authenticity, and emotional resilience.
-Amber Long
We often hear terms like “negative emotions,” but what if sadness, fear, anger, disgust, hopeless despair, and shame are actually gifts? They are hardwired in each of us, and while uncomfortable, they provide valuable insight into our inner world.
“Emotions are like children. You wouldn’t let them drive the car,
but you also wouldn’t lock them in the trunk.”
Understanding Uncomfortable Emotions
Each emotion serves a purpose
Sadness: Grieving a loss or change in life.
Fear: The natural desire to protect yourself and get away.
Anger: Signaling that something must stop or be defended against.
Disgust: Alerting you to situations that are not life-giving.
Hopeless despair: Not knowing how to solve a problem due to limited resources or options.
Shame: Feeling out of alignment or misattuned, indicating a need for attention and connection.
These emotions are not bad. They are signals pointing us toward connection, understanding, and growth.
The Islands of Emotion
Imagine each uncomfortable emotion as an island. You will visit these islands multiple times in your life. At the center of all these islands lies a bigger island, joy.
Joy is more than happiness. It is the place where you can act as your authentic self, grounded in secure relationships and community.
“Difficult experiences only become trauma
when we don’t have someone to share them with.”
Building Your Bridge Back to Joy
Returning to joy requires intentional steps
Recognize the Island You Are On Notice which emotion you are feeling and how it shows up in your body.
Choose Supportive Connection Find someone trustworthy who can be present with you while you process your feelings.
Share the Emotion and Receive Attunement Focus on the emotion itself, allowing the other person to validate and acknowledge what you feel without trying to fix it.
Once you have done this, you can begin to make sense of the situation and interpret it through truth rather than emotion-driven distortion.
Practicing Joy Daily
Over time, you can strengthen your ability to return to joy independently. Sharing and connecting helps prevent emotions from becoming overwhelming patterns that distort your relationships and choices.
By building these bridges, you not only navigate your own emotions but also guide others in returning to joy.
“Joy is the place where you can show up as your true self,
even in the midst of uncomfortable emotions.”
Uncomfortable emotions are not enemies. They are invitations, reminders to pause, connect, and return to your center. With awareness, connection, and support, you can navigate any emotional island and return to the heart of joy. To help you do this, I’ve created a Free Return to Joy Workbook, full of practical exercises and guidance to help you recognize your emotions, process them, and build a bridge back to joy.
