‘If I’m sad…’: When Ranbir Kapoor explained why he doesn’t resist emotions to stay happy

For those who often feel overwhelmed by their feelings or criticised for being ‘too emotional,’ this raises an important conversation about what healthy emotional processing really looks like.

This is where an expert’s insight becomes essential to understand whether embracing emotions without questioning them can genuinely contribute to mental well-being, and how people can practise this in their daily lives.

How does allowing emotions to unfold without resistance affect mental health, and why do so many people struggle to do this?

Dr Sakshi Mandhyan, psychologist and founder at Mandhyan Care, tells indianexpress.com, “Allowing an emotion to run its natural course tends to reduce its intensity. When people try to push sadness away or analyse it too quickly, the mind creates what we psychologists describe as secondary distress. This is the additional layer of guilt, fear or self-judgement that becomes heavier than the original feeling. In my work, I notice that when someone permits themselves to simply feel what is present, their nervous system settles and their body stops fighting itself.”

She adds that many people struggle with this because they were taught to avoid discomfort from a very young age. Some were told not to cry, some felt responsible for holding the family together, and then many learnt that emotional expression is unsafe. “This conditioning creates experiential avoidance, which is the tendency to fear our own inner world. Ranbir’s approach reflects emotional permission. When we stop questioning every feeling, the body relaxes and healing becomes easier.”

Psychological practices or mindsets that help individuals cultivate acceptance 

A mindset like this typically grows from mindful acceptance, Dr Mandhyan says, which is the ability to acknowledge reality without losing emotional presence. It is not indifference. It is a form of emotional flexibility. “People who practice this learn to observe their feelings instead of becoming absorbed in them. This is a central idea in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, where awareness and acceptance come before action.”

Practical ways to start ‘going through the beats of it’ without feeling overwhelmed 

Dr Mandhyan mentions, “A helpful approach is to start with very small emotional doses. Instead of pushing themselves to face everything at once, one can spend one or two minutes sitting with the feeling and then return to grounding. This seemingly trivial step prevents emotional flooding and gradually builds tolerance. Naming the feeling also helps.” 

Grounding tools like slow breathing, touching a cold object, focusing on the feet, or placing a hand on the chest help anchor the body. Many people also benefit from a brief written check-in. These small steps train the mind to move through the emotion rather than escape from or become trapped by it, states the expert.