Don't neglect your emotions. Express them — constructively! | Artūrs Miksons | TEDxRiga

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Published 2019-04-02

As we grow through life, we’re taught what’s “ok” and what isn’t, when it comes to demonstrating emotions. We learn to push them away, reject, or suppress what has been deemed socially unacceptable. But when it comes down to it, emotions are neither “good”, nor “bad”. They simply are — in our DNA. And the best approach is to simply be, and experience, and express those emotions in a constructive way — be that to family, children, colleagues, friends, or a stranger on the street. Artūrs Miksons, MD, is a psychotherapist and head doctor of the Riga Stradins University Clinic of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy. A well-liked teacher among students, passionate and active promoter of emotional health. In clinical practice, he successfully combines the roles of both child and adult psychotherapist. Helping an adult or child to get to the true nature of themselves, to encourage and improve emotional closeness in the family and to alleviate emotional suffering.

Artūrs also actively operates outside the clinic, through mass-media, by educating the society about the importance of emotions and mental health. Through students' interest groups he improves the approach to the doctor-patient relationships of future physicians. In Balint groups, he helps colleagues to maintain work satisfaction and avoid burning out. From clinical, academic and personal experience he has come to the conviction that the greatest value is to be felt and accepted by someone. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

All Comments (21)

@MrWhiteav6 5 years ago

That was beautiful. Truly sincere and genuine. I'm sorry for your father.
@dontask9000 3 years ago

This man is so strong for being so able to talk about his dad while keeping his composure. May his dad RIP.
@anthonyalonzo6407 5 years ago

"CONSTRUCTIVELY" is a pretty important word
@furowowo 3 years ago

Im grateful that he didnt cancel the TED talk, I think the message of his speech was portrayed beautifully. Firstly I loved his calm but emotional voice, but from this video I am beginning to understand the impact of expressing my emotions to other people. Just as this man did, even though some people might have different interpretations of the speech or did not understand his situation, but we can all surely tell what he was feeling. One thing i understand is the impact of stating your feelings could be that the people who felt your emotions will want to be there to hear more and offer any help or advice, or they could learn something from you. Besides, feeling the same emotions together would be a nice feeling rather than reminiscing on your own. ❤ I hope we could all have someone to feel our feelings with us
@fumblyfingers901 5 years ago

One of the few ted talks I actually watched completely. !
@JamesOschFilms 5 years ago

BRAVO!!! "... I hope there is somebody there, that feels you." What a wonderful call for more emotional connection vs. cold efficiency. At the end I had a tear on my cheek too. A tear of hope!
@tarponjohn 5 years ago

what a lovely heart felt talk...hard but you did a damn good job...thank you ..your dad would be proud
@sadafmehdipour3984 5 years ago

That was one of the best talks I have ever seen , my favorite part was when he explained why in some cases we run away from doing something , because we're afraid of how we're gonna feel during it , that's true AF . made me emotional
@FallonInWonderland 5 years ago

This was truly amazing....when he said "he's not going to call me after this" that hurt my heart. I am so sorry.
@ImproveEnglishwithShweta 5 years ago

Really true..we need somebody to feel us..not only understand us..
@saloniuppal 5 years ago

Believe in yourself 😊 Believe in your capacity to do good and great things 😊 Believe that no mountain is so high that you can't climb it😊 Believe that no storm is so great that you can not weather it 😊 For instance 👉A Bird 🐦 sitting a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because her trust is not on the branch but on it's own wings Always believe in yourself 😊
@FeelTalks 5 years ago

Thank you for sharing this important message and practice!!!! Having someone who can simply just FEEL what you are feeling is all we need in our worst times. We don't need to be told "do this, do that", "fix this, fix that", or "CHANGE this, change that"... All we need is someone who can listen, be there, share the silence, and feel our emotions. 💞
@min1944 3 years ago

This touched me emotionally and it was interesting how he related 3 seemingly different stories and scenarios to actually all explain one point. I loved what Lucy’s Mom told her and this resonated with me. Great job and I am so sorry for the loss of your father.
@macktheripper7454 5 years ago

I too experienced the death of my father (2017) and it totally destroyed me. The good news is it taught me a lot and I discovered some beautiful things in life. I still get angry, I still cry a lot but death is something we all need to embrace at some point in our lives. God bless you, and thanks for a wonderful talk.
@curlyquirks72 5 years ago

I'm going through a tough time right now and this is something I really needed to hear...thank you 💙
@dabsmomos 2 years ago

1. "We are conditioned that it is okay to feel a certain feelings and not ok to feel other feelings". 2. It is in our biology to feel and that is why it is ok for Psychotherapists to feel emotions of their patients. 3. "I hope u have somebody who feels you." Simple and profound messages!
@jayayo6392 3 years ago

I loved the ending. "And I hope every single one of you has the experience that not somebody understands you, but somebody feels you"
@lobsterbisque7567 5 months ago

I'm fortunate. When I was 17, I started playing an instrument, and when I had a bad breakup shortly after turning 18, I started journalling. Two of the most constructive ways that helped me deal with life.
@righteousree9837 5 years ago

Wow... ain't gonna front....this made me really sit back and think...
@clintraymundo6547 2 years ago

I was about to tear up when he admitted to his girlfriend that he misses his dad. I really liked the story of Lucy. We don’t know that expressing our emotions can help a stranger express their own.