How to Hide Your Feelings

Although hiding your feelings can be a bad thing, in some situations keeping your emotions under control is important. In many areas of life you may have to hide your feelings about something, such as in the workplace or a very tense situation with a loved one. Learning how to keep your feelings in order in certain situations can help diffuse them and keep things from getting out of hand.

Instructions

• 1

  Don't act immediately on whatever impulse you are feeling. For example, if a co-worker does something to upset you, don't react by screaming at him, even though you may want to. Your gut feeling may be true to you, but it can also exacerbate the situation.

• 2

  Take a minute to step away from whatever may be causing your feelings. For example, excuse yourself to the bathroom and go take a few deep breaths. Consider what you are feeling and how those feelings could affect those around you in a negative way. This can help you to better realize the need to hide these feelings.

• 3

  Focus on how your feelings could negatively affect the situation once you are back in it. For example, if you have a friend who is making choices you disagree with, but that are not directly hurting you or your friend, voicing your feelings could cause conflict between you two. Keep your focus on the negative result that could come from sharing your feelings on the matter.

• 4

  Don't let your outer self show what you are feeling without saying anything. For example, if you are mad about something, then having a scowl on your face can show it, even if you think you are hiding it without saying it. If you are trying to hide some feelings, then make sure to act accordingly on the outside. If you are mad on the inside, try to smile or at least seem calm on the outside in order to keep that anger under lock.

• 5

  Write down your feelings in a journal that no one will see. This can be one way to help alleviate some of the pressure of hiding your feelings. Even at work, if you are upset about something or even happy but don't want to seem like a show off, write a quick passage to get some of those emotions out.