Navigating Emotions: Part 1

Emotion is the silent and oftentimes most overlooked form of communication which shapes our daily lives. It guides our decisions, colors our relationships, and influences how we see the world around us. From the quiet hum of contentment, to the storm of anger or grief, emotions are powerful messengers... if we’re willing to listen.

As a child of a marriage and family therapist, I learned from a very young age other people had feelings too. I would later learn that those "feelings" were actually called emotions. Most children start out learning the basics: happy, sad, and angry. The mother is "happy" when the child take its first steps or mutters its first word. A child may feel "sad" when they drop their last bite of banana on the floor. Children may get "angry" when another child takes their toy.

Most people resort to these 3 core emotions when describing high-stress, overstimulating experiences or feelings. For instance, if someone asks you why you lashed out after loosing your keys and you're about to be late for an interview, you might say "I am just angry!" However, what if we dug a little deeper? Are you truly angry? Or, are you frustrated and stressed? Maybe even anxious or scared? 

So why does this matter?

Naming our emotions directly impacts how we communicate with others and process each other's state of mind. Emotions are also the basis upon which a lot of decision-making is formed, so it is important to name them accurately!

In this blog series, we’ll explore different emotions, learn how best to categorize them, and discuss how understanding them can help us lead more balanced, authentic lives.