When we express our feelings honestly, we are better equipped to deal with them because we actually know what we are feeling instead of denying it. Expressing feelings in a clear, safe way with accuracy is the only way to properly convey to others what we are feeling and what we want, without being a knee-jerk reaction to hit back at someone. Sometimes wanting to express our feelings can simply be a knee-jerk reaction because you feel hurt, stupid, or rejected. This is being emotional rather than emotionally intelligent.