Feelings, Feel Things

Feelings can provide you with many messages if you are open to them.

Feelings can provide you with many messages if you are open to them. In many cases you may have been taught to fear your emotions the same way that you fear so much of the unknown. The study and understanding of emotional intelligence has grown and this new information can help people to feel more accepting while experiencing emotions. This acceptance can connect you to your feelings so that they become useful.

A technique that is used in an attempt to understand feelings is to categorize or judge them as good or bad feelings. They have been seen as a reaction to a situation that can be controlled instead of a reaction to a situation that can be embraced as your bodies’ way of communicating with you. Consider that your feelings are a body system like any other. How could you use the information provided to improve your life?

If you are able to use your feelings to guide you, you may find that decisions become easier. Judgment diminishes their ability to serve any function but awareness can allow you to use the messages they provide to your advantage.

When you are experiencing stronger emotions it is easier to become aware of them. This may also be the time when you are inclined to shut them down more quickly. You may be uncomfortable with the behavior that goes along with the emotion or feel judged externally for your reactions. Often there is a feeling of embarrassment that goes along with the expression of emotions. You may have experienced not wanting anyone to see you cry at a movie, or wondering what people might think when your child is acting upset as you try to buckle up their car seat.

If you are triggered by your emotions it makes it more difficult to allow them to be exposed. Acknowledging your feelings as they arise will help you release them. If you separate your reaction to emotion from the emotion itself you can use your feelings as a tool.

1. Become aware of your emotions. Ask yourself what is triggering this emotion. Use all the clues that you can find.
2. Identify what this means to you. What do you really want?
3. Come up with a solution. How can you honor yourself in this situation?

Once you are able to complete this process more easily you will be able to use techniques to address the behavior around the emotions. You can incorporate relaxation and self-regulation to master your emotions.

If you have any questions or comments about these techniques or you are feeling like you have something to say on this topic please join the conversation at http://www.livinginsideout.ca or email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) . If you would like to know more about how to bring this into your own life, I welcome you to contact me.