We have an inner guidance system as we move through life – thoughts and emotions.
It is essential that we pay attention to both and know what to do with them.
Emotions are automatic reactions that arise in you in response to things that happen.
The stories we tell ourselves about how we interpret what is happening has an enormous impact on our feelings.
Knowing when to follow our feelings and when not to is indispensable to our wellbeing.
Emotions can be helpful guides or relentless dictators.
They can cause us to withdraw from life, relationships and the things we enjoy, but they can also be a valuable source of information for understanding ourselves and our needs.
When we avoid our emotions they sit under the surface, having immense power over us. Until we become fully aware of our inner experiences, emotions will rule.
Getting curious about them brings them into conscious awareness and gives us choice in how we respond.
Notice how your emotions about a situation make you feel and what they motivate you to do. Be wary of acting on feelings that are fuelled by fear, anger or resentment.
See the story the emotion is telling you. Notice whether the emotion is serving your wellbeing. Be honest with yourself—is it helping or hurting?
Allowing yourself to feel and express emotions is essential for emotional health and healthy relationships.
When we are deeply in tune with our own emotional world we are able to enter into the feelings of others without losing ourselves.
We then have the capacity to resolve conflict maturely and negotiate solutions that consider both perspectives.
