To say “I wish I never felt [insert unpleasant feeling here]” is not only unrealistic, but limiting your ability for actual empathy. 

As a therapist/client/human/parent/boss/etc.(!!), you will inevitably feel frustrated by others because we are social, feeling, meaning-making creatures. If you were able to somehow inoculate yourself of annoyance or judgement or frustration, how would you ever connect with another person who sometimes also feels frustration? How would you know what you like or don’t, what your preferences are, who you are or what to do? Life without frustration isn’t a fully felt or lived life. I am willing to bet even Mother Theresa, the Dalai Lama and Dolly Parton have all felt annoyance. To expect different of yourself would be to hold yourself separate/higher than others. 

While we don’t need to go about the world spewing hate or even act on the annoyance we feel, to deny that someone rubs us the wrong way is to deny our own authentic, human experience.

I generally believe every feeling on the feelings wheel is worthy of its time in the (private, safe) sun. You deserve to experience and learn how to manage a broad range of feelings in order to fully understand ~life~. 

Consider experimenting with self-validation techniques or feel free to reach out if you aren’t sure how to move forward. I’m excited to figure this out with you.