We’ve all been in situations where we experience mixed emotions. Maybe you’ve felt both joy and sadness during a big life decision, such as whether to purchase a home or accept a job offer. Or maybe you’ve experienced mixed feelings about the ways the COVID-19 pandemic has shaped your life. Psychologist Naomi Rothman says that while these feelings of ambivalence are uncomfortable, they can also serve us in important ways.
Drawbacks:
- People don’t like or trust those who express mixed feelings
Benefits:
- Mixed feelings make us spend more time making a decision or learning more than jumping to a quick answer or decision (when feeling low “closure imperative”)
- Mixed emotions connected with meaning making
