For far too long, society has pushed us to suppress the majority of our feelings. Fear, hurt, anger, sadness, and joy are the five primary emotions that receive the most attention. We take pride in our unwavering positivism on social media. You are congratulated for being so tough after being urged to endure through difficult conditions with a grin on your face. When we think of a "bad" emotion like melancholy or rage, many of us feel guilty and choose to keep those sentiments to ourselves while putting up a happy face for the rest of the world.
Fortunately, this mindset is changing, and an increasing number of psychologists and other health professionals now recognize the importance of accepting and understanding all of your emotions. Being aware of your emotions is only one-half of the puzzle. You must not only comprehend what you are feeling, but also why you are feeling that way. Emotional awareness is the term for this ability. Understanding your emotions can assist you in achieving emotional equilibrium, relating to others, determining what and why you want, and making decisions. Even unpleasant emotions (such as rage or sadness) can provide knowledge into yourself and others.
Emotional awareness allows you to maintain control even when external circumstances are beyond your control, and it allows you to understand which emotions you are experiencing and why. It also allows you to see the connections between your feelings and your thoughts, actions, and words. It allows you to be more aware of yourself and your relationships with others. Furthermore, it also assists you in having a clear grasp of your beliefs and goals, as well as how you might act to achieve them. Emotional competency begins with an understanding of how your emotions and thought processes influence your actions. You are more likely to get distracted by emotions if you lack self-awareness.
Our emotions become more sophisticated as we become older. Learn to recognize emotions that aren't as well-known, such as shock, embarrassment, fear, contempt, boredom, amusement, desperation, and doubt. Begin by just noting distinct emotions as you experience them. To yourself, give them a name. For example, you might remark, "I feel proud" after a successful class presentation, "I feel depressed" after a terrible experience, or "I feel friendly" when eating lunch with a group. If you want to make the greatest decisions possible, you must label your feelings. That's easier to make better decisions when you know exactly how you're feeling and how it could affect your judgment.
Choose a common emotion, such as joy, and track it throughout the day. Keep track of how often and when you experience it. You can simply make a mental note or, better yet, write it down in a notebook whenever that emotion arises. When that emotion is present, pay attention to where you are, who you're with, and what you're doing. Take note of how strong the emotion is at different times. This might be a useful exercise in figuring out what to embrace or avoid in your daily life to better regulate your emotions.
Many people spend their life putting up their best effort in order to avoid discomfort. However, squandering all of their energy in an attempt to avoid it is what makes them feel uneasy practically all the time. In fact, the more you expose yourself to things that make you feel uneasy, the more confident you will become in your capacity to handle stress. It's okay to be sad; it's a natural part of life. Keep in mind that you can't have the good without the terrible. Instead of suppressing or denying your sentiments, remind yourself that they are all natural and human. You'll be a stronger person once you've recovered from the sadness or fury of a circumstance.
Many of us struggle to express our emotions because we don't know how to do it. It's a good idea to write things down, so you can become more comfortable with the various ways you might express yourself. Keeping a record of your feelings might be quite beneficial to your mental health. You can also creatively communicate emotion. Make art, write poetry, or compose music that expresses a certain emotion.
You'll need to know what to do with your emotions once you've learned to name and track them. You may be able to have constructive interactions with loved ones if you understand your sentiments. We can share what we've learned about ourselves with others and receive and provide support and empathy. Find out what helps you process your feelings in the same way that writing does, and be as creative as you want in expressing yourself.