“I wish I could get off these anti-depressants,” my friend recently told me. “They don’t seem to help anyway.”

My response? “You’re depressed because your life sucks. Anti-depressants can’t fix that.”

Wow. That’s harsh, you may be thinking. Yes, it is. I call it as I see it. Go ahead and be offended. Because that’s the topic of this blog post – emotions.

Emotions do not come out of nowhere.

Emotions are a direct response to specific stimuli.

“I’m ticked off because my wife can’t live within our means and I’m left struggling to make ends meet.”

“I’m snarky because I feel mistreated and misunderstood.”

“I’m agitated because despite what tests the doctors take and what meds they put me on, nothing seems to improve my health.”

Emotions are real feelings based on real events.

Our emotions alert us to the fact that something may be wrong and we need to do something to correct it. Emotions may also be an indication that things are going extremely well.

“My son and his wife just had a baby and I’m having a hard time containing myself!”

“I just got a raise and feel like celebrating!”

“My long-awaited vacation is only days away and I can hardly wait!”

Emotions are neither good nor bad. They are indicators as to how our lives are going.

Take them as either red flags to be heeded, or green flags indicating we’re doing something right. Either way, emotions are tools for us to use as we navigate an unsure world.

And that’s the key.

Our emotions are a gift from God to use as a compass as to where we should go from here.

We often think if we could just get our emotions under control as if they were in and of themselves the enemy, then things would be fine. Wrong.

Emotions are our north star, pointing us in the right direction. We’re wise to use them as such.

In her wonderful book, “Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight,” Dr. Linda Bacon, PhD says this:

I encourage you to pay careful attention to the emotional and personal significance of the ideas presented here, to try to make sense of the ideas by relating them to your own life experiences. You may feel resistance as you read. When this feeling occurs, consider what it may threaten in you before dismissing the idea. If you examine your fears, they hold less power in limiting you. (p. 6)

Dr. Bacon’s words struck a cord when I read them. She’s encouraging readers to examine their emotions, the feelings that come up when presented with new ideas. She says readers may feel resistance; therefore, they should ask themselves what feels threatening about the idea. It’s important to examine such fears because in doing so, their power to limit us is broken.

Dr. Bacon’s insight is noteworthy, not only in our quest for health but in all areas of our lives. We resist what we fear. But in the first step of examining that fear, we break free from its chains. We are then able to make good choices that benefit ourselves and those we love.

My conclusion? Realize that emotions are not bad. They are indicators – thermometers. Listen to them and investigate their source. What underlying nerve are they striking? Is it valid or not? What does it mean? What is it ultimately telling you? Is there something you need to change or accept? Where should you go from here?

So, instead of avoiding, burying, or struggling to overcome our emotions with willpower, we’re better off examining them and listening to their wisdom. Only then will we hear what they’ve been telling us all along.