Channelling Our Most Difficult Emotions into Power Expressions

By Mary Kaitlin Enright

A lot of things are wrong with the world today. Far too many crises—humanitarian, ecological, political, health, economic, or otherwise—plague our communities in all corners of the globe. And each of them matter in their own way. Yet, one more than another may really send your head spinning, your stomach churning, your heart pounding. For me, it's the health crises of pediatric cancer rates and the lack of capital resources to research and support children undergoing cancer treatment. Name your cause. And now think about how it makes you feel. What do you do with all of those feelings? 

Let them out? 

Let them simmer? 

Or channel them into something productive and powerful?

A guest speaker came into my creative writing class last week and shared a bit about her experience of dealing with those feelings. Hannah Khalil is an Irish screenwriter and playwright who wrote The Scar Test. The Scar Test is work of fiction, based on the real experiences of refugee women in Yarl's Wood, an female immigration detention center in the U.K. During our class discussion, a fellow student asked Khalil what compelled her to write the play. She shared that while she was commissioned to write the play, what really drove her through it was the shock, anger, and frustration that she felt when she learned about the poor treatment of women at Yarl’s Wood. She channeled those feelings into her writing, which resulted in a powerful representation of the inhumane experience of female refugees in the U.K., that calls its audience to action to fix the system.

The way that Khalil talked about channelling her feelings into her writing reminded me a bit of myself. When I hear about unjust crises occurring today, I often feel frustrated, helpless, and sometimes even a little hopeless for humanity. So, in other words, I spiral. And when I feel that way, I take it out on a pen and a piece of paper. I channel it into my writing. I write articles about crises; I write poems about my woes; I write fiction stories about the people affected by them; I write about my personal frustration in my journal. I find solace in my pen and paper.

But writing isn’t the only form of solace out there. There are a lot of ways to channel emotions (whether worldly or personal) into positive hobbies or habits instead of letting them send you into that spiral we all know and hate. 

Here are some that you can try to take care of your mental health when you are feeling particularly helpless about the world. You can channel those emotions into:

• Music (whether listening or making)

Make a playlist that works for you when you’re feeling stressed, angry, frustrated, helpless, whatever the case may be. Or make some of your own music!

• Conversations with friends, family, or others 

I once spent 45 minutes in a professor’s office hours spewing my woes over the ethics of capitalism…Weirdly enough, it helped.

• Share your thoughts with your greater community 

Journalism (whether big or small scale), social media, and other platforms provide an opportunity for you to share how you feel with the world around you.

• Educate yourself

If you find yourself particularly frustrated about something, use that feeling to drive passion. Educate yourself, figure out how you can help, and get involved.

• Health up!

Sometimes the best thing to do when your emotions are rampant is to expend energy.  One of the best ways to do that is to move your body. Stretch a little, or do some yoga. Go for a run. Whatever your style is, just get those limbs moving.

Calm your mind so you can think a little clearer

Meditation and breathing exercises can be a great way to settle the clutter and focus on what is most important about the way that you’re feeling.

And so many more…

Whether it's through one of the outlets listed here or one of your own, find what works for you to channel your feelings into productive forms of emotional expression. You’d be surprised how powerful channels can be—from the lightness I feel after writing “School is stressful,” in my journal, to the ripple effects of action that Hannah Khalil’s play inspired. 

So, go use the power of your emotions to make a little impact of your own.