The Myth of Being ‘Too Emotional’
Hello dear reader,
Have you ever been told you’re too sensitive? Too emotional?
Maybe you’ve been in a situation where you felt like you had to toughen up, hold it in, and just ‘get over it.’ If so, you’re not alone.
I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve squeezed my hands and told myself,
Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
We live in a world that often tells us emotions are a weakness, something to suppress or control.
And don’t get me wrong, there have been many times when showing emotions would have been unhelpful, clouded the waters and been unsafe.
But what if this isn’t always the case?
What if feeling emotions aren’t a weakness?
What if our emotions - the very thing we’re sometimes shamed for - are actually one of our greatest strengths?
The Myth of Being ‘Too Emotional’
Let’s talk about this idea of being ‘too emotional.’ What does that even mean? Too emotional for whom?
Society, and the workplace, tends to glorify logic and rationality, making emotions seem like something to be managed rather than understood.
Especially in professional settings, empathy is sometimes seen as a liability, rather than the leadership superpower that it actually is.
For a long time, I bought into this myth myself. I thought that in order to be taken seriously, I had to be less ‘feeling’ and more ‘thinking.’
But what if it isn’t either or? What if feeling is part of the way we think? Is it even wise to suppress our emotions in the effort to appear more of a thinker?
The truth is, suppressing emotions doesn’t make them disappear - it just forces them underground, where they find other ways to surface (usually at the most inconvenient times).
Better Out Than In
Emotions aren’t the enemy.
They’re messengers. They tell us what’s important, what needs attention, what aligns and what doesn’t.
When we ignore them, we ignore valuable information that could guide us toward better relationships, better leadership, and ultimately, a better life.
And here’s the crux of it: expressing emotions in a healthy way actually makes us stronger, not weaker. Studies show that emotional intelligence - the ability to recognise, understand, and manage our own emotions while also recognising and influencing the emotions of others - is one of the greatest predictors of success.
So, when I say ‘better out than in,’ I mean it.
Letting your insides match your outsides is a form of integrity. Owning your emotions, instead of stuffing them down, is an act of courage. And leading with empathy? That’s a game-changer.
What If Someone Sees Me As Weak?
They might. But that says more about them than it does about you. Strength isn’t about how well we can hide our emotions, it’s about how well we can understand and use them. Vulnerability isn’t a flaw; it’s the foundation of trust, connection, and leadership.
What If I Get It Wrong?
You will. We all do. Emotional intelligence isn’t about getting it right all the time, it’s about learning, adapting, and showing up anyway. Mistakes don’t define you. How you grow from them does.
What If This Is Actually My Strength?
Well, if emotions are a natural part of who you are, it is.
Sensitivity, empathy, and deep emotional awareness aren’t things to be fixed; they’re things to be embraced. They make you a better leader, a better friend, a better human. The world doesn’t need less of your emotions - it needs you to use them well.
So, here’s my challenge to you this week:
What’s one way you can lean into your emotions instead of resisting them? How can you listen to what they’re telling you, rather than pushing them aside?
I dive deeper into this in my latest podcast episode, so go check it out!
And as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts - drop me a comment or send me a message. Let’s start a conversation about what it really means to lead, bringing together both deep thinking and deep feeling.
Yours,
Hannah x