Observe and Describe; Getting Back to our Emotions

Our emotional system is quite amazing. We are born with a set of emotions that innately work for us and yet that same emotional system is shaped by the world around us. The experiences and lessons we have been taught by our caregivers will influence and guide us into our emotions and our reactions to those feelings, healthy or not. We know that emotion trumps reason every time. In reclaiming our emotional system so as to begin to feel more emotionally regulated, the first step is to simply observe and describe our emotions at any given time in our day. This is easier said than done :) Our emotions as adults often come with judgement: "Crying is a sign of weakness," "I go from 0 to 60 when I'm angry and I know its wrong," "I feel guilty because I disappoint people." Judgments,; however, tend to be a precursor to action; so we are much better served to set our goals on observing and describing: "I feel sad right now," "I can feel a tightness in my chest," "I can feel my anger rising." This may not be easy, but with practice and patience, you will begin to see your emotions in a different light. Freeing them from their cages, you will feel lighter and less tied to developed patterns; giving you a sense of agency and direction in your own emotional world. Photo credit: https://unsplash.com/@tengyart