About this quote

Strong feelings often need a physical outlet before you can think clearly. Letting yourself cry can reduce the pressure in your chest and make a next step possible. Notice what the emotion is asking for—a break, a talk, or a practical fix—and give it that. Treat crying as a tool, not a failure, then take one small action to look after yourself.

When to use it

• At my father's funeral I kept thinking of Tolkien's line so I sat with my grief instead of forcing a smile.
• After the client meeting went sideways I cried in the stairwell, then came back to my desk and fixed the proposal.
• During chemo I broke down in the parking lot and remembering that not all tears are wrong helped me stop hiding how I felt.
• After we lost the championship I let myself cry on the bus, then spoke to the coach about what to work on next.