Why it’s important NOT to feel good

By Camilo Henriquez & Kristina Kongsgaard

“Then I would rather explain why it is important not to feel good,” Camilo said. I had just proposed the opposite. It was an ordinary Thursday afternoon with a spontaneous conversation taking place across study programs, work tasks and other duties. As many times before, I had to acknowledge that his contradictory statement made a great point.

Regardless of our situation, disappointment is a part of life. We will be criticized, have heartbreaks, get fired, need more money, fail or lose people we love. And even though we will feel great pain, that's okay. Because pain is a requirement for us to feel happiness and joy.

Camilo has been working as a psychologist since 2012, whereby he has been introduced for an incredible amount of destinies. He has treated various psychological challenges in Spanish and English and thereby gained useful experience, which he can use to treat his future clients. As a psychologist and therapist Camilo helps people handle difficult aspects of their lives. When he follows up on former clients, one thing is being confirmed over and over again: It takes darkness to enjoy the light.So, when Camilo that Thursday afternoon without much consideration could state “it’s important not to feel good”, he had a point. A point based on pure experience during his 8 years of psychological work. When I asked him to elaborate, we talked for some time. The main point was, that feeling bad won’t last forever. So hold on. The rest of the conversation can be summarized in 3 advice for you, who are currently not feeling very good:

- Remember that things don't come easily. But then they do, you will feel great.

- Remember that it's okay to fail. How could we otherwise learn and improve?

- Remember to enjoy what you have. It may seem basic, but some things will not be there forever.

- Stop running away from negative emotions. Listen carefully to what these emotions need to say, what thoughts are behind them and what do they mean.

*Important. If you have been feeling down, crying, thinking about self hurting, and experiencing problems to sleep, eat, socialize, or do your normal activities for more than 2 weeks in a row. Ask for Help, because these simple tips may not be enough to help you out.

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