Sometimes there's nothing better than a good old cry. Sometimes, the uglier the cry, the better.

I often work with people who believe that emotions are either good or bad. This thinking makes navigating life pretty hard unless you have some effective ways of stuffing those emotions deep down (spoiler alert: that never ends well). Emotions give us clues about what we need to recalibrate ourselves and how we live our lives.

Sadness slows us down, allowing us to process negative experiences and find a way to move forward with a new normal.

Fear is about safety. If you are feeling worried or anxious, tune in to whether it is a real threat or an imagined one. Consider what you need to do to reduce the feeling (e.g. walk, take action, reality check thoughts), rather than ignoring it and hoping it'll go away.

Happiness is the razzle-dazzle emotion of life; it is energising and rewarding and keeps us directed towards the worthwhile things in our lives. Joy is not the aim of life (that's unrealistic) but the reward that keeps us going.

Emotions can be powerful and overwhelming at times, and trying to avoid them is as useful as trying to get Trump to show humility. So take a deep breath and let them come, pay attention to their message and be kind to yourself until the wave passes.

Just remember to drink plenty of water and moisturise after a cry. You might have 99 problems, don't let dry skin be one.

Which emotion to you find the most difficult?