In a world focused on optimism and positivity, there's little space for "ugly feelings"—those raw emotions like jealousy, frustration, or doubt that don’t fit into our "best selves". But, in close circles of trust, I invite you to make room for those feelings with a simple phrase: "I had some ugly feelings today". It’s a quiet ask to be vulnerable, to let the mess out for a minute.
Offering a "rollback" is another generous way to make room for incomplete thoughts or unfinished conclusions. If it doesn’t land right, roll it back and try again. No harm done. There’s something freeing about giving yourself and others permission to express what's on your mind without the pressure of perfection. This is a practice of kindness among friends and loved ones that I personally hold sacred.
It’s easy to forget that while kindness and good intentions matter, everyone is still human. It's in those moments of awkward honesty, when your guard is down, where real connection happens—when we can finally accept our flaws and let others do the same (if only for a minute).
We’re all mostly trying to be good humans, and part of that means allowing space for the imperfect and uncomfortable truths. This is my case to make room for the ugly feelings too.