Feelings aren't just abstract concepts; they're physical experiences that provide valuable insights into our internal world.
When humans practice talking about feelings they are also developing a skill known as self-regulation. Being able to recognize a feeling gives us the opportunity to decide what we are going to do with it.
🎒 LEARN: There are a lot of words used to describe feelings.
Humans feel to understand.
The more we understand our feelings, the more they act like our personal compass, guiding us through the emotional landscapes of our life. By connecting with our feelings, we can understand not just ourselves, but the world around us in richer, more nuanced ways. 🎢
📕 READ: Emotions and Interpersonal Communication
Humans feel to connect to the body.
Feelings are the body's raw, unfiltered communication system. They are physical responses that signal an internal shift in response to external stimuli. Whether it's the adrenaline rush of excitement or the knot of anxiety in your stomach, our bodies respond in real-time to our emotional states.
🛍️ UNPACK: The Science of Emotion
Humans feel to communicate.
Feelings help us express things—like joy, fear, surprise, and love—that we often can't put into words. Just think about all the emojis we use in our texts! These feelings can show us and others what we need or want. If we pay attention to our feelings, it can help us regulate our emotions easier.
⚡ PRACTICE: An Adult’s Guide to Practicing Emotions
Q: [ Paying attention to your body] How do you feel?
A: [insert your answer here]
⬇️ Read below if you get stuck!
👩🏼🏫 Here’s how:
Observe the sensation. Can you identify the emotion?
Create a space or container for the emotion to exist. Is there anyone else in this space?
Communicate with yourself to regain composure: How do I feel? What do I believe? What do I know? What don't I know?
Listen and reflect on your answers. Remind yourself that it takes ⌛ 90 seconds ⌛ for an emotion to cause a spike in cortisol in the body and for the body to flush it out again.
Great job!
At Personal Reflexive we are launching a ¡free! course for our community called “Feelings 101”.
📺 WATCH: Feelings 101: Why so many feelings?
P.S. Want to keep going?
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The Cadre community is making big strides in talking about mental health and connecting people with the mental-health services they want.
You can find Personal Reflexive live on the Cadre platform every Tuesday and Friday morning to talk about feelings.
⭐ Join us here! ⭐