Our attitude is not a single choice we make once. It’s something that forms quietly, shaped by how we interpret events, respond to emotion, and carry experiences forward. Thoughts, feelings, and actions are closely connected, but not always in the tidy, controllable way we like to imagine.

We often try to manage our emotions by suppressing them, especially those that feel uncomfortable or inconvenient. Anger, grief, frustration, sadness. But when emotions are ignored or pushed aside, they don’t disappear. They surface elsewhere, often as tension, stress, or a sense of being stuck. What we refuse to acknowledge has a way of staying with us.

Awareness changes this. Not by fixing emotions, but by making space for them. When we allow ourselves to notice what we’re feeling—without immediately judging or correcting it—we gain clarity. Emotions begin to feel less like obstacles and more like information. They tell us something about what matters, what feels threatened, or what needs attention.

This awareness also shapes how we relate to others. When we recognize our own emotional patterns, we’re less likely to project them outward. Conversations soften. Perspective widens. Responses become more intentional rather than reactive.

None of this means living in a constant state of positivity. Human experience includes discomfort, uncertainty, and emotional fluctuation. Every feeling has value, even those we’d prefer to avoid. The goal isn’t to eliminate difficult emotions, but to let them move through us without letting them define us.

Over time, attitude becomes less about control and more about orientation. Where we place our attention. How we interpret what happens. What we choose to carry forward. When we allow ourselves to feel fully and respond thoughtfully, our actions begin to reflect not just what we think—but who we are becoming.

There’s growing research, and discussion, around the effects of suppressing emotion. For those who want to explore that further, I’ve linked a short video below.

See the video on suppressing emotions

Brent M. Jones

Brent writes with quiet confidence and curiosity, exploring communication, reinvention, and what truly matters. His reflections invite readers to slow down, reconsider their stories, and reconnect with the values that guide them. Through books, essays, and his What Matters Substack Articles and Notes, he offers writing that doesn’t shout—but still speaks clearly.