Is hiding emotions always a bad idea?

When we're in a happy mood -- whether because we nabbed a promotion or landed a date with someone we've had our eye on -- we don't hesitate to express our emotions. We might smile, laugh, cheer, post a buoyant message on social media, or treat your friends to celebratory drinks.

But things play out quite differently when we're going through a rough patch in our lives. We might instead hide our emotions -- sadness, anger, jealousy -- because we don't want to worry others or compel them to probe. As a result, we might turn down invitations to attend parties, call it a night unusually early, and shelve the kinds of things we look forward to when we're in better spirits, like hobbies. 

There's nothing wrong with playing your cards close to your chest. In particular, I discourage anyone from bringing your feelings to light on social media unless you've altered your settings so that only those closest to you -- the ones you genuinely trust -- see those posts. 

Which leads me to the central point of this post: It's important to try and open up to those in whom you confide. It could be your partner, your best friend, or anyone else whom you can rely on to keep a secret. Maybe the right person is someone who's been candid with you about their struggles in the past. 

I know this necessitates being vulnerable, which isn't always easy. But emotional honesty serves not only to make you feel better, but to further deepen relationships -- to forge new connections -- with others. 

Once again, it isn't about exposing your emotions for all to see; rather, it's about having someone to give you an ear or shoulder to cry on when the world seems to be closing in on you. 

Human beings are decidedly emotional creatures. Keeping these emotions locked up will only cause feelings of anger and sadness to fester. Make them known but only to those you can trust to be empathetic and non-judgmental. 

That isn't to say they can't offer constructive criticism. But in the end, your gut will assure you that they have your best interests at heart. 

If your loved one were in a bad place right now, you would want them to be transparent about what they're grappling with. The same should apply to the emotional rollercoasters that life sends you on.