Yesterday taught me a powerful lesson about the importance of beginning each day by facing my emotions. Instead of sitting with the painful feelings that were stirring inside me, I chose to ignore them. I filled my morning with work, busy tasks, and distractions—anything to avoid the heaviness of hopelessness, loneliness, and emptiness. For a moment, it seemed easier to escape through busyness than to confront the feelings I wanted to push away.

But as the day wore on, I could feel the effects of that avoidance. The initial relief I’d felt by staying busy was quickly replaced by exhaustion, both mental and physical. I couldn’t focus on the things I truly valued—meditation, prayer, a quiet connection with myself—because I was too worn out from running away. By evening, I felt drained and unfulfilled. And when it was finally time to rest, sleep didn’t come easily; my mind was too full, my heart too heavy.

Avoiding my emotions only made them louder. Instead of feeling better, I felt worse, and I realized that starting my day without addressing my emotions only compounded the pain I was running from.

What I learned is that true peace requires facing discomfort first. Sitting with uncomfortable feelings might be difficult, but it gives me clarity and inner strength that can’t be achieved through distractions. Today, I’m reminding myself to start each day by being present with myself—no matter how hard it may feel. Because when I don’t start my day right, I end it feeling far worse.