By Kavya Thathsarani

On certain days, everything seems perfectly balanced. You're sipping your iced coffee, vibing to your playlist, and your life feels like a Pinterest board. Other days? You're crying over a dropped call or typing an angry essay in response to a dry “k” text.  (No shame, we've all been there.)

The truth is, it's not about being "too sensitive." You feel things, and that's okay. That's a part of life and what makes us human. What really matters is learning how to ride the emotional rollercoaster without handing it the power to ruin your whole day.

What is this magical "keeping it together"?
It's not about faking smiles and bottling up your feelings. It's about knowing how to handle what you feel without letting it wreck your mood, your group chat, or your peace. 
Imagine this: you are ready to hit send on a mini rant... But instead, you pause, put the phone away, and make yourself a cup of warm tea. That's keeping it together, picking calm over chaos. 

Why It's Worth Learning (Even If You Think You've Got This)
When you don't keep your emotions in check, they start running the show. A spilt coffee turns into a meltdown. A "seen" message turns into a mental spiral at 2 am. But once you figure out how to handle your inner turmoil, life feels so much lighter. Arguments feel less dramatic, you cry less over little things, laugh more at the chaos, and start choosing your peace over pointless drama. You start bouncing back quicker from the things that used to ruin your day, and with a clearer head, you might finally be able to take control of the situation and easily turn things around!  

How to Actually Do It
Notice and name it: Say it in your head, "I'm annoyed." "I'm anxious." Labelling your feelings helps you understand what you need at the moment. 

Take a moment: before reacting, step back. Take a big breath, put on a playlist, and vibe to it. Taking a short pause can save you from a full spiral.

Change the narrative: instead of spiralling, you take the lead. Turn "I can't deal with it" to "This is hard, but I've handled worse." The way you talk to yourself has a big impact and decides how the story goes from here. 

Let it Out: Get it off your chest by venting it to someone, journaling about it, or simply crying it out if needed. Feelings don't disappear when you ignore them. They just get louder and heavier. 

Signs You Must Be Feeling Too Much 

• Your mood switches every five minutes
• Getting overwhelmed by little things
• Snapping at people or shifting everyone out 
• Making impulsive choices that you regret later

 
If this hits a little too close? That's okay. You're not being dramatic, just feeling a lot. And there’s always a way to make it lighter. 

Feel It, But Don't Let It Drive 
Emotions are valid, but they don't always give the best advice. Think of them as dramatic passengers...you can listen, but don't let them grab the wheel. So next time it feels like everything's a bit too much, pause. Take a breath, put on your cosy playlist, light a scented candle, and make yourself a warm cup of hot chocolate. You know what to do now. You're still feeling everything, just not letting it write the whole story.