Monitoring your inner-self

In the realm of personal or professional relationships, emotional awareness plays a pivotal role in determining our level of success. A critical life skill is our ability to perceive, understand, and manage our own and others' emotions. Emotions influence every aspect of our lives, from our daily actions to navigating critical challenges. Building fulfilling relationships requires assessing behaviors, effective communication, finding motivation, displaying empathy, building trust, and handling conflict skillfully. Being aware and in control of our emotions lays the foundation for meaningful interpersonal connections.

Failure to focus on our emotions and truly comprehend why and what we feel hinders our ability to connect our feelings with our actions. This disconnect can have disastrous consequences for the well-being of our relationships. But how can we monitor and reconnect with our core emotions, such as fear, anger, sadness, happiness, and joy? Here are five steps you can take to enhance your emotional awareness:

Manage your stress: Develop a personalized stress-reducing technique that effectively diffuses stress when overwhelmed. You create space for clear thinking and accurate emotional assessment by alleviating stress.

Pay attention to physical sensations: Strong emotions are often accompanied by distinct physical sensations, such as a knot in the stomach, sweating, increased heart rate, or involuntary movements. Your body provides valuable clues when you seek to connect with your inner self. Take note of the physical sensations associated with each emotion, and with time and patience, you'll learn to interpret these cues accurately.

Avoid quick judgments: Challenge your initial assessments of emotions. Research suggests that when overwhelmed, we frequently misinterpret one strong emotion as another (e.g., confusing anger with fear or disappointment with frustration). Reflect on what occurred, your reaction, and the underlying reasons. Consider past experiences and make comparisons.

Practice introspection: Carve out dedicated time in a peaceful setting to be alone with your thoughts and feelings. Regularly engage in self-reflection and be honest with yourself. When free from stress and external distractions, you have a better opportunity to attune to your emotions and evaluate them effectively.

Document thoughts and feelings: When something extraordinary happens, take a moment to write down your thoughts and emotions. Cultivate the habit of revisiting these notes during calm moments. This simple exercise can yield profound insights.

Emotions form the bedrock of a meaningful life. While we all experience emotions daily, it doesn't mean we are always in control. Developing emotional awareness is a gradual process. Enhancing your ability to understand emotions, recognize their presence, assess their nature, and manage them appropriately equips you with the social and emotional competencies essential for success in personal and professional spheres.

"I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them." Oscar Wilde.