Sadness can arise unexpectedly and linger longer than we might like. Sometimes it’s tied directly to an event or loss, and other times it seems to well up from deep inside, unbidden and unwelcome. We may have trouble sleeping or sleep too much. We may have no appetite or wind up emotionally eating. We can lose interest in activities that we usually enjoy.
The first step in processing sadness is to acknowledge that we’re feeling it, and that’s OK. Experts suggest doing little things to care for yourself, like taking a short walk or listening to music you love. Human connection can do wonders to lift our spirits, so don’t be afraid to reach out to people. If you find yourself overwhelmed by sadness and struggling with depression, don’t wait. Contact a professional or call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
The most important thing to remember about experiencing sadness is that you are not alone. Sadness is so common, in fact, that it is one of the seven universal emotions that everyone, in every culture, experiences — along with surprise, enjoyment, fear, disgust, contempt, and anger. Of course, its ubiquity doesn’t make it any less unpleasant. Collected here are 12 of our favorite quotes on sadness, to remind you that we all feel down sometimes. This too shall pass.
You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.Jonathan Safran Foer
We’re taught to be ashamed of confusion, anger, fear, and sadness, and to me, they’re of equal value to happiness, excitement, and inspiration.Alanis Morrisette
The word “happy” would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.Carl Jung
Tears are words that need to be written.Paulo Coelho, novelist
When you’re happy you enjoy the music, but when you’re sad you understand the lyrics.Frank Ocean
Experiencing sadness and anger can make you feel more creative, and by being creative you can get beyond your pain or negativity.Yoko Ono
Your sadness is a gift. Don’t reject it. Don’t rush it. Live it fully and use it as fuel to change and grow.Maxime Lagacé, Canadian hockey player
Some days are just bad days, that’s all. You have to experience sadness to know happiness, and I remind myself that not every day is going to be a good day, that’s just the way it is!Dita Von Teese, dancer
The good life is not one immune to sadness but one in which suffering contributes to our development.Alain de Botton, philosopher and writer
Boredom, anger, sadness, or fear are not “yours,” not personal. They are conditions of the human mind. They come and go. Nothing that comes and goes is you.Eckhart Tolle, author
What brings us to tears, will lead us to grace. Our pain is never wasted.Bob Goff, author
Photo credit: Professor25/ iStock via Getty Images Plus
