My hunch is that if we allow ourselves to give who we really are to the children in our care, we will in some way inspire cartwheels in their hearts.
Fred RogersRead
Confronting our feelings and giving them appropriate expression always takes strength, not weakness. It takes strength to acknowledge our anger, and sometimes more strength yet to curb the aggressive urges anger may bring and to channel them into nonviolent outlets. It takes strength to face our sadness and to grieve and to let our grief and our anger flow in tears when they need to. It takes strength to talk about our feelings and to reach out for help and comfort when we need it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Acknowledging and expressing our emotions requires strength and courage.
Fred Rogers emphasizes that confronting our feelings, such as anger and sadness, is a sign of strength rather than weakness. It takes courage to acknowledge these emotions and to find healthy ways to express them, whether through tears, conversations, or seeking support from others. This perspective encourages individuals to embrace their emotional experiences and seek help when needed, fostering a healthier emotional landscape.
Themes
StrengthEmotionsAngerSadnessExpressionsCourageGrief
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a mental health workshop to emphasize the importance of emotional expression.
More from Fred Rogers
All quotes →Human beings need to feel that they are lovable and capable of loving.
Fred RogersRead
Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a prerequisite of love. One of the most essential ways of saying 'I love you' is being a receptive listener.
Fred RogersRead
I'm fairly convinced that the Kingdom of God is for the broken-hearted. You write of 'powerlessness.' Join the club, we are not in control. God is.
Fred RogersRead
The presence of a grandparent confirms that parents were, indeed, little once, too, and that people who are little can grow to be big, can become parents, and one day even have grandchildren of their own. So often we think of grandparents as belonging to the past; but in this important way, grandparents, for young children, belong to the future.
Fred RogersRead
One of the most important gifts a parent can give a child is the gift of accepting that child's uniqueness.
Fred RogersRead
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