Pretend that you’re the paddle and the rubber ball is your…
““Pretend that you’re the paddle and the rubber ball is your feelings. When something bad happens to us, our natural instinct is to try to push the bad feelings away. It’s like we hit the rubber ball as hard as possible to make it vanish, but the harder we hit it, the stronger and faster the ball bounces back. It’s like the ball doesn’t want to leave us. Grief feelings are like that. They need to sit still and be understood. The good news is that if we talk about your feelings, we can make many negative aspects of the ball disappear.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Suppressing grief by forceful avoidance causes it to rebound; gentle acceptance and expression help it dissipate.
In simple terms: Avoiding feelings makes them stronger; talk to heal.
Key Takeaway
Talk about feelings to reduce pain.
Themes
grief
emotions
acceptance
psychology
mental health
Mood
empathetic
supportive
Type
Bad feelings:1
Feelings:1
Good news:1
Feelings Make:0
Feelings Away:0
Ball Feelings:0
Grief Feelings:1
When to use this quote
- counseling
- support groups
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
cognitive therapy
mindfulness
emotional regulation
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes you avoid painful feelings?
- How can you safely express grief?
A Different Perspective
Some may resist opening up about pain.