As a therapist I use a wave analogy to help people cope with big emotions. Big emotions can feel scary and overwhelming and out of control. Waves in the ocean build, crest and crash and then there is calm as the wave retreats. If we fight the wave and get caught up in its fury, we get bounced around and caught up in the strength of the wave. But if we go with the wave, by riding it, swimming under it – all is good. We come out of the wave unharmed. Emotions are just like waves – they come and go. We need to be able to just ride those waves too.