The Good Life

Where life feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside

Hey there Reader,

When I was younger, I thought I had emotions all figured out.

To me, being emotionally healthy meant expressing everything I felt—and doing it loudly if necessary.

If I was angry, I let people know.

If I was upset, they heard about it.

And if someone kept their feelings to themselves? I figured they were repressed.

It took me a long time to realize that what I was calling “expressing my emotions” wasn’t emotional maturity at all. It was just… losing control. Or, as I liked to call it back then, “being passionate.”

What I didn’t yet understand was this:

There’s a huge difference between stating what you think and feel—and actually having emotional maturity. Emotional maturity means regulating your emotions. It means communicating your needs calmly and respectfully, even when you’re frustrated. It means being curious about what you’re feeling instead of reacting impulsively.

It’s not something you’re born with. It’s something you practice.

And like so many of the things we discuss in this community—it’s a skill you can develop at any age.

🔧 Tool to try

A moment of pause before reaction

Next time you feel the urge to immediately share your anger, frustration, or irritation:

Pause and ask, what am I actually feeling beneath this?
Ask yourself, what do I need right now?
Then decide if and how to express that in a way that reflects your values—not just your mood.

This takes practice. But every pause builds your capacity.

🖋️ Something to consider

Expressing emotions is easy. Emotional maturity is harder—but far more powerful.

📖 Club Corner

In Let Them, Mel Robbins reminds us that many people around us—no matter their age—are still emotionally reactive children in adult bodies.

And that it’s not your job to manage their feelings, reactions, or choices.

👉 Click to join the Book Club here (it's free).

You’ll receive a monthly reading guide, weekly reflections, and a gentle end-of-month worksheet to help you turn insight into action. No pressure, just meaningful progress—at your own pace.