What are you feeling now that you're reading this? Maybe you're curious to know more about this. Or maybe you're hoping, 'Oh, if I read this, I'll learn something new about myself.' Maybe you're bored because you have to do something for school, 'Oh, do I have to do this too?' Or maybe you're excited about a project you're really excited about. Or maybe you're thinking about something completely different. Think about it, maybe you're excited about a trip you're going on this weekend, or maybe you're sad about a small problem with a friend. These feelings are part of all of our lives.
Why are these feelings so important to us?
Simply put, these feelings are part of our nature as humans. Just like pain in our bodies, emotions are signals in our minds. They give us information about what we are experiencing and help us understand how to respond to it.
Think about it, we've been feeling these emotions since we were little babies. Babies, little children respond to their feelings with facial expressions, like smiling, hugging, crying. For example, when a baby is hungry, when they feel something uncomfortable, they cry, right? That's their way of expressing what they're feeling. They feel emotions, they show them, but they can't yet give a name to that feeling or say why they're feeling that way.
But as we grow older, our ability to understand these feelings also develops. Instead of reacting to everything at once like small children, we are able to identify what we are feeling and put it into words. With time and practice, we become better at understanding what we are feeling and why we are feeling it. This ability is what we call "emotional awareness" or `(Emotional Awareness)`.
This `(Emotional Awareness)` has many benefits for us.
- This helps us know exactly what we want and what we don't want.
- It tells you how to improve your relationships with others.
- We can talk about our feelings clearly.
- It reduces the occurrence of conflicts, or makes it easier to resolve a conflict that has arisen.
- When difficult feelings arise, it helps you recover quickly.
There are some people who are a little more in touch with their emotions than others, which means they understand their emotions better. But the good news is that anyone can become more aware of their emotions. It just takes a little practice. Although it takes a little effort to develop, the benefits are well worth it. Do you know what? This `(Emotional Awareness)` is the first step to developing a skill called `(Emotional Intelligence )`, which helps a lot in life.
Some basic things we need to know about emotions
Okay, so let's understand emotions a little more simply. Here are some things that are very important to keep in mind.
- Emotions come and go: Just like clouds, emotions don't stay in one place. How many different emotions do we experience in a day? Some emotions last only a few seconds. Others can linger in our minds for a while, even becoming our mood. For example, the feeling of anxiety that comes from being late for work in the morning may disappear after a while. But the joy that comes from hearing great news can linger in your mind for hours.
- Emotions vary in intensity: Not all emotions are felt in the same way. Some are very mild, barely felt. Others are very strong, intensely felt. Emotions can range in intensity. The intensity of an emotion depends on the situation and the person at the time. Imagine how different two people can react to the same event. One person might feel only a little bit of anger, while another might feel an overwhelming amount of anger.
- There is no such thing as good or bad emotions: This is where many people make a mistake. In fact, there is no such thing as good or bad emotions . However, the way we express those emotions, that is, the way we behave, can be good or bad. For example, the feeling of anger is not bad, it is normal. But shouting and hurting others when angry is bad. So, learning to express emotions in an acceptable way, that is, managing emotions , is a skill that needs to be developed separately. For this, it is essential to first understand your own emotions properly.
Every feeling is important – both the 'good' and the 'bad' ones.
We like some feelings, don't we? We call them 'positive' feelings. For example, happiness, love, self-confidence, inspiration, cheerfulness, interest, gratitude, and feeling included .
Likewise, there are some emotions that we find a little uncomfortable and difficult. We tend to call these 'negative' emotions. Emotions like anger, resentment, fear, shame, guilt, sadness, and worry fall into this category.
The important thing is that these feelings that we think are 'good', as well as the feelings that we think are 'bad' – all of these are normal and natural.
Every emotion tells us something about ourselves and the situation we are in. It's like a message. But sometimes it's hard for us to accept what we are feeling. We judge ourselves when we feel that way. For example, imagine that you feel a little jealous of a friend's promotion. Then instead of thinking, "Shit, why am I so jealous? I'm so bad," it's better to just observe that feeling and say, "Oh, I feel a little jealous of him." Then you'll realize that maybe hidden inside that jealousy is your own unfulfilled hope.
If we try to avoid these 'bad' feelings, or pretend we don't feel them, it's like going back and punching ourselves in the face. That means we're either making those feelings worse or trying to get them out in a different way. If we want to let go of difficult feelings and let them fade away, we need to face them and try to understand why we're feeling them.
This doesn't mean you have to be constantly thinking about your feelings, or telling everyone about them. Emotional Awareness is simply recognizing when you feel something, honoring it, and accepting it as it is.
Okay, so how do we increase our emotional awareness?
This `(Emotional Awareness)` helps us to know ourselves better and accept ourselves. So, how can we develop this ability further? Here are three simple steps to follow:
- Think about how you feel at different times throughout the day, and name that feeling:
Make this a habit. Just pay attention to how you feel at different times and in different situations throughout the day. Maybe you notice that you feel very happy and excited after planning to go somewhere with a friend. Or you feel a little nervous before an exam. Maybe you feel very relaxed when you listen to a song, or you feel inspired to do something new after seeing an art exhibition, or you feel pleased when a friend compliments you. Just recognize that feeling and give it a name in your mind. "I feel happy right now," "I feel a little anxious right now," etc. This will only take a second, but it is a very good habit. Also, notice how each feeling fades away after a while, allowing for the next experience.
- Rate how strong that feeling is:
Once you've identified and named a feeling, do something else. Rate the intensity of the feeling on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 is a very mild, barely noticeable feeling. 10 is a very strong, intense feeling. For example, if you're feeling angry, mentally rate it as '3 angry?' '7 angry?' or '10 very angry?' This will help you understand the different levels of your emotions.
- Tell and share what you feel with those closest to you:
This is the best way to practice putting emotions into words. This ability helps us to connect with our friends, our lovers, our parents, our coaches – anyone. Share something that you feel as a daily habit, whether it's something very personal or something that's just a normal everyday feeling, with someone you trust. It can be anything from saying, "Mom, something happened at school today, and I feel really bad," to telling a friend, "Man, I'm so glad that thing worked out!"
Like everything else in life, we become better at dealing with emotions! Remind yourself that there are no such things as good or bad feelings. Don't judge your feelings – just recognize them, name them, and accept them.
So, the last thing you need to remember is...
There are several important messages you can take home from what we've talked about today.
- Every emotion you feel is normal , and each one is a signal that is bringing you some important message.
- Emotional Awareness is a valuable skill that you can develop through practice.
- This ability can help you in many aspects of your life, especially your relationships, mental well-being, and decision-making.
- Don't judge any feelings you have. Accept both the 'good' feelings and the 'bad' feelings.
- Make a habit of observing the things you feel throughout the day, giving them names, and sharing them with someone you trust if possible .
Remember, this `(Emotional Awareness)` is the first and most important step to improving your emotional well-being and `(Emotional Intelligence)` . So, start making friends with your emotions today!
Emotions, Emotional Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, Mental Health, Emotion Management, Self-Awareness, Relationships
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