Opinion – Understanding the effects of our emotions on others

We all have hard feelings. Frustration, fear, anger, disappointment and stress are all normal parts of being human.

There is nothing wrong with feeling these emotions, but the problem comes when we allow them to splash over onto the people around us. Too often, it is not the source of our emotional troubles, but those who suffer most from them. We may snap at a spouse after a hard day at work. Financial worries can make us impatient with our kids.

We may get angry at friends or work colleagues and speak harshly to them.

In such moments, our feelings become a burden for others to bear.

What we sometimes forget is that emotional outbursts can have lasting effects.

A harsh word spoken may be quick to utter, but slow to die in someone’s heart.