Emotional Sharing in Relationships
When we think about sharing, we often think about the physical items that we own and whether or not we want to lend them out to other people. But there is another type of sharing that we often do not give a second thought. That type of sharing is “emotional sharing”. Emotional sharing is essentially when two people share and recount emotional experiences to each other. It seems that being able to share emotions is how one can start a relationship and this is actually the epitome of what a relationship is. When one person “takes the plunge” and shares emotions, the other person has an opportunity not only to acknowledge and empathize but to share their own emotions, which builds trust between both parties.
However, this sounds easier than it actually is. For numerous reasons, people might not feel comfortable sharing those emotions, even if they want to. They know logically that it will solidify and grow the relationship but something is holding them back. Below is a list of four ways to gain confidence to share emotions and also how to be supportive when someone shares emotions with them.
1. Accepting your feelings- Before you are able to verbally express your own emotions, you have to be able to acknowledge that you have a right to feel those feelings. Just remember that feelings are different than behavior. Its acceptable to feel angry but its not acceptable to yell, shout or break things while you are angry.
2. Get Creative- If sharing emotions is a challenge for you, think outside the box and instead of verbally expressing it, you can write or even draw your emotions. The goal is for you to be able to express yourself in a healthy manner and if being creative can accomplish that goal, then go for it.
3. Repetition- The key to success in life is to do something over and over again until you feel confident enough to where it becomes second nature. Expressing your feelings is similar in that sense and one needs to become comfortable in doing so. A good way to do this is to take small steps in “opening up” and building off of those results.
4. Don’t judge feelings of others, just listen- A large part of being comfortable sharing your own feelings is making sure you have the trust of the person you are talking to. One of the ways to do that is to be accepting of their feelings. You might initially feel defensive or irritated, but recognizing and overcoming those feelings to be present for your partner can go a long way in the relationship.
If you feel that you struggle with the above emotions and want to explore that further in a safe and non-judgmental space, please reach out by phone or email, 443-601-9722 or barercounseling@gmail.com.
