Feel now sits at the center of this dementia and brain health question.
We live in a world that often tells us how we should feel. From childhood, many of us are taught to hide our anger, swallow our sadness, or push away fear. We get messages—sometimes spoken, sometimes silent—that certain emotions are not okay. But the truth is, every feeling has its place.
Permission to feel means giving yourself the green light to experience whatever emotion comes up inside you. It’s about recognizing that emotions aren’t good or bad; they just are. When you allow yourself to feel angry, sad, excited, or scared without judgment, you start to understand yourself better.
Why do we need this permission? Because feelings don’t disappear just because we ignore them. Bottling up emotions can lead to stress and even physical health problems over time. On the other hand, when we acknowledge what we feel and let it move through us naturally—like a wave passing by—we become more resilient and connected with ourselves.
Permission also helps us connect with others in deeper ways. When people around us see that it’s okay for them to have their own feelings too—without being shamed or dismissed—trust grows stronger between friends and family members.
Sometimes society makes it seem like only positive emotions matter: happiness is celebrated while anger is frowned upon at work or home settings alike; sadness gets brushed aside as weakness rather than seen as part of healing process after loss; anxiety gets labeled as something wrong instead of recognized as natural response during uncertain times.
But all these feelings serve important purposes: anger can signal injustice needing attention; sadness helps process grief so healing begins anew each day until peace returns again someday soon enough if given space within hearts open wide enough already waiting patiently beneath surface layers worn thin by life itself unfolding moment after moment right now here today where everything happens all at once yet nothing ever stays same forevermore except change itself always present everywhere always moving forward never backward except maybe sometimes when memories come flooding back unexpectedly catching off guard those least prepared for such sudden reminders past events long forgotten until triggered again somehow somewhere somehow else entirely different context altogether but still familiar somehow deep down inside soul searching answers questions left unanswered years ago still lingering shadows cast across mindscape vast empty spaces filled only echoes voices whispering softly calling out names lost forgotten buried beneath layers dust accumulated over lifetimes lived before now this very instant present tense alive awake aware conscious breathing living feeling being human together apart alone together again cycle repeating endlessly spiral upward downward inward outward expanding contracting collapsing rebuilding anew each time anew every single day night dawn dusk twilight midnight noon morning afternoon evening forevermore amen so be it let go hold on release embrace accept surrender resist fight flight freeze flow grow glow shine fade away return begin end pause continue onward upward forward beyond horizon line vanishing point infinity finite infinite possibilities endless opportunities limited only imagination courage willingness vulnerability openness honesty authenticity integrity compassion kindness empathy love light laughter tears joy sorrow pain pleasure ecstasy agony bliss despair hope faith trust doubt certainty uncertainty mystery magic miracle mundane ordinary extraordinary everything nothing something anything all above below between beside within without outside inside upside downside front back side top bottom middle edge center core heart soul spirit body mind essence presence absence silence noise chaos order balance harmony discord unity separation connection disconnection reunion farewell hello goodbye welcome home leave arrive depart stay remain vanish appear disappear reappear transform transcend descend ascend evolve revolve resolve dissolve absolve involve devolve evolve again repeat cycle spiral onward upward forward beyond horizon line vanishing point infinity finite infinite possibilities endless opportunities limited only imagination courage willingness vulnerability openness honesty authenticity integrity compassion kindness empathy love light laughter tears joy sorrow pain pleasure ecstasy agony bliss despair hope faith trust doubt certainty uncertainty mystery magic miracle mundane ordinary extraordinary everything nothing something anything all above below between beside within without outside inside upside downside front back side top bottom middle edge center core heart soul spirit body mind essence presence absence silence noise chaos order balance harmony discord unity separation connection disconnection reunion farewell hello goodbye welcome home leave arrive depart stay remain vanish appear disappear reappear transform transcend descend ascend evolve revolve resolve dissolve absolve involve devolve evolve again repeat cycle spiral onward upward forward
For more, see NIH MedlinePlus — cognitive testing.
