I’ve always been the kind of person who feels everything deeply. Whether it’s joy, sadness, anger, anxiety -  my emotions run close to the surface. Tears come easily, not just when I’m sad, but when I’m overwhelmed by beauty or joy. Walking through a forest, listening to music that moves me, or simply watching a commercial—these moments fill me up so much that the only response is to let the tears fall.

For me, sadness is just another emotion to fully experience, not something to run from. I’ve never been one to hide from my feelings. When sadness comes, I don’t fight it. I let it wash over me, and I embrace the healing that comes with releasing those emotions. My little nook in the corner of my office has become my safe space, where I can wrap myself in a blanket, sit with my feelings, and just let it out. It’s a place where I can cry freely, and in those quiet moments, I remind myself that it’s okay to feel everything.

This summer was tough. Burnout hit hard, and no matter how much I wanted to push through, my creativity just wasn’t there. I kept trying to push through it, to force the inspiration back, but it never worked. Instead, I let myself feel the sadness of it all. I cried over the lost creative spark, over the exhaustion that had built up, over the pressure I’d placed on myself. And in that release, I started to find little glimpses of peace.

I’ve always believed that there’s strength in letting yourself feel deeply. Crying isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a way of processing, of releasing, and ultimately, of healing. We don’t have to be strong all the time. In fact, showing up for all our emotions—whether joyful or painful, is where our true strength lies. So if you’re feeling sad, let yourself cry. Find your own safe space, and let those emotions flow. You’ll be surprised how much lighter you feel once you let go.

Creative Challenge: Tear Jar

What You’ll Need:

A jar, cup, or container (you can also draw one if you prefer not to use a physical object)

Small pieces of paper (cut into tear shapes)

A pen, marker, or crayon

Optional: decorating materials like stickers, ribbons, or coloured markers

Prepare Your Jar: Find a jar or container. You could use a glass jar, a small box, or even a cup. If you're feeling creative, decorate your jar with colours, symbols, or images that resonate with your emotions or that feel comforting to you. This step helps personalize the jar and gives it significance.

Write On Your Tears: Cut small pieces of paper into tear shapes (or any shape that feels right to you). These tears will represent the source of your sadness. On each piece, write down what’s been weighing heavily on your heart or causing sadness in your life. Be honest with yourself during this process, and take your time to reflect on each one.

Fill the Jar: As you write on your tears, place them into the jar. Imagine each tear being contained within the jar, symbolizing that you are giving yourself permission to hold your sadness in a safe place. This is a visual way to acknowledge your feelings without letting them overwhelm you.

Optional: Decorate or Seal the Jar If you like, you can seal the jar by placing a lid on it, tying a ribbon around it, or even adding a special label to the jar (such as Sadness Jar or Feelings Bottle ). Sealing the jar can symbolize temporarily putting your sadness away or containing it until you're ready to confront it again.

Reflection and Release: When you're ready, you can open the jar and revisit your tears. You may choose to do this during a quiet moment of reflection or when you feel emotionally prepared. Slowly read each tear and reflect on it. Afterwards, you can either keep the tears in the jar for further reflection or them by safely burning them, tearing them up, or burying them—whatever feels most meaningful to you.

Why This Works: The Tear Jar exercise gives your sadness a physical form, allowing you to see it, acknowledge it, and release it when you’re ready. The simple act of putting your sadness into a jar provides distance and control over feelings that can otherwise seem overwhelming.