Happy Wellness Wednesday! Do you feel emotionally well this Wednesday? Shouldn't we all think about this question? We're all guilty of not checking in with ourselves as often as we should, it's easier said than done. Like checking our phones or brushing our teeth, it should come naturally to us.

So what are emotions? How can we examine them? According to Oxford, an emotion is a spontaneous, instinctive mental state brought on by one's surroundings, mood, or social interactions. A tangle of feelings followed by physical and psychological changes that impact our thoughts and actions is a common definition. Since emotions are the psycho-physiological methods in which we respond to an action, our impulses might inform us of what is happening as a means of addressing the issue by involving brain activity (Van Dyck et al., 2014).

According to Calvo et al. (2015), there are numerous physical manifestations of emotions that have a significant role in our social interactions, social outcomes, and the way we express our emotions to others. In my thesis, "Dancing, Mindfulness, and Our Emotions: Embracing the Mind, Body, and Sole," I delve into greater detail on emotions and wellness by identifying how mindfulness and the creative arts may help us identify, understand, and release our repressed emotions. In order to illustrate the relationships between emotions, renowned psychologist Robert Pluchik created the Wheel of Emotions in 1980. The diagram is shown below:

Robert Plutchik created the wheel of emotion, a tool that is crucial for improving self-awareness, communication, emotional intelligence, and the understanding and management of emotions. Better emotional regulation and interpersonal interactions result from its assistance in helping people recognize, express, and control their emotions. According to D'Ascenzo (2009), "since persons bodily resonate with emotions" (Collins, 2004, pg.6), positive emotions can restore reactions to circumstances by reflecting our self-consciousness.

My practice mostly involves children, thus I frequently stress the importance of educating them to recognize and control their emotions and to cultivate a healthy and strong subconscious mind. Which techniques can we use to help children learn to identify and control their emotions? A child's mental growth will benefit from learning how to express their emotions. Children who are aware of and in control of their emotions will feel capable of handling whatever challenge life presents. A child who can express "I'm mad at you," or "that hurts my feelings," is better equipped to handle disagreements politely rather than physically. Regretfully, emotional expression is often portrayed by society as a sign of weakness when, in reality, it is a sign of extraordinary power. As an adult or person in a position of authority, think about explaining a circumstance that made you feel a particular way. This is an excellent method of teaching children about emotions and how they are normal.

We should encourage children to share what triggers a certain emotion. Despite this, children's books, animation movies, and television shows emphasize it or even implore children to connect the word to the emotion's face (for instance, a red, frowning face would indicate an angry face). It is questioned whether kids comprehend the true meaning of emotion or what caused them to feel it, let alone recognize it. Families and classrooms need to support this strategy more often.

We are all aware of how important mental health is throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood; emotional well-being is essential for managing life's challenges and maintaining positive relationships.

Be well!

A Painful Kick to the Butt

Creatively Blogging
3 min read

We can say this about a lot of different things, I suppose. Trauma and the healing process can both be excruciatingly unpleasant. Bob Marley once said, "You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice." The quote is frequently used to inspire people to persevere in the face of difficulties.

In addition to causing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol and drug abuse, traumatic experiences can have an impact on relationships with friends, family, and coworkers. Never dismiss feelings or behaviors that might indicate a traumatic experience. Take action against them! Listlessness, sadness, and relationship issues could be symptoms of previous trauma. Trauma falls into three categories: acute, chronic, and complex. Acute trauma is the result of a single incident. Chronic trauma, such as violence or domestic abuse, is recurrent and persistent. Complex trauma is the result of exposure to multiple and numerous traumatic events, often of an invasive, interpersonal kind.

Let's kick it in the butt! Which routes will lead us to recovery? When we ask ourselves, "How can I get past this?," we need to think about the good aspects of rehabilitation. Don't be too hard on yourself, have patience with yourself, and keep in mind that you didn't deserve the pain or the circumstances around the incident that hurt you. Allow yourself to have both happy and bad days.

Experiment with body and dance movements or exercise regimens; movement can help your nervous system recover from stress. Include more creative methods to boost your mood and increase your blood flow. A lot of memories, tension, and negative emotions are stored in the body; if you don't move or let them out, they will accumulate and may cause illness. Based on changes in motor behavior, autonomic nervous system activation, and metabolic processes that produce enhanced moods, lower stress-anxiety, and depression, various forms of motor behavior alterations aid in emotion regulation. (Calvo and others, 2015). By directing the brain to keep these issues from manifesting, dancing can help people who have memory loss and dizziness operate better. Positive behavioral changes, calm breathing, and appropriate blood vessel and vein circulations are all signs of a healthy brain (Philadelphia Integrated Medicine, 2018).

According to Burton (1925), dance therapy may foster both body and spirituality. This refers to the theory of the mind, body, and soul, which holds that all three are interconnected. The mind and body function as one and cannot be divided, unlike the soul. Although they originate in the mind, many emotions, memories, feelings, desires, etc. are frequently felt throughout the body (McGonigal, 2012). The European Renaissance produced a variety of dance over time, leading scholars to assume that dance evolved after that period (Payne, 2006). Dance has changed and will continue to evolve over time due to a constantly evolving society. As a reflection of neurons activating during motor observation, researchers have demonstrated how emotion regulation happens through movements.

Listen, listen, listen if you know someone who is dealing with prior trauma, here are some wellness tips you can offer:

Give them time.
Accept their feelings.
Use the same words they use to avoid triggering them.
Don't dismiss their experiences.
Only give advice if you're asked to.
Ask for help, find out what resources is accessible in your neighborhood.
Connect with positive people.
Give yourself credit when its due...and stop looking at what didn't work out.

Happy Wednesday! Be Well!

Wellness Wednesday

Creatively Blogging
4 min read

Cheers to a well Wednesday! What's planned for this Wednesday? Is this Wednesday a better Wednesday for you than the previous was? If so, what was the difference you made? What could you have done differently, if not? Your overall mental health, relationships, and capacity to perform daily tasks can all be impacted by your emotional state. Over time, your response to your events and emotions may evolve. The capacity to effectively manage life's stressors and adjust to change and challenging circumstances is known as emotional wellbeing.

So, are you emotionally well? Shouldn't we all think about this question? We're all guilty of not checking in with ourselves as often as we ought to, but I know it's easier said than done. Like checking our phones or brushing our teeth, it should come naturally to us. What are emotions, exactly? and how can we go into their specifics? According to Oxford, an emotion is an unplanned, instinctive mental state brought on by one's surroundings, mood, or social interactions. A tangle of feelings followed by physical and psychological changes that impact our thoughts and actions is a common definition.

According to Calvo et al. (2015), there are numerous physical manifestations of emotions that have a significant role in our social interactions, social outcomes, and the way we express our emotions to others. Since emotions are the psycho-physiological methods in which we respond to an action, our impulses might inform us of what is happening as a means of addressing the issue by involving brain activity (Van Dyck et al., 2014). According to D'Ascenzo (2009), "since persons bodily resonate with emotions" (Collins, 2004, pg.6), positive energies can restore reactions to other situations by reflecting our self-consciousness.

I go into more detail on emotions and wellness in my thesis, "Dancing, Mindfulness, and Our Emotions: Embracing the Mind, Body, and Sole," as well as how to use mindfulness and the creative arts to recognize, understand, and let go of our suppressed emotions. Since I work mostly with children, I often emphasize the value of teaching them to identify and regulate their emotions as well as developing a strong and healthy subconscious mind. Which techniques can we use to help our kids learn to identify and control their emotions? Your child's mental growth will benefit from learning how to express their emotions. Children who are aware of and in control of their emotions will feel capable of handling whatever challenge life presents. A child who can express "I'm mad at you," or "that hurts my feelings," is better equipped to handle disagreements politely rather than physically. Regretfully, emotional expression is often portrayed by society as a sign of weakness when, in reality, it is a sign of extraordinary power. As an adult or person in a position of authority, think about explaining a circumstance that made you feel a particular way. This is an excellent method of teaching children about emotions and how they are normal.

For example, a parent's shortened working hours have caused them to feel furious or unhappy. Your child notices that you're not your typical happy self at the dinner table, and they may inquire or wonder if they've done anything wrong. Speaking honestly and openly with your child or children can enable you to express your anger at the fact that your job hours have been cut, which has made it more difficult to pay bills and give them as many presents as you formerly did. Encourage your child or children to share what triggers a certain emotion as well.

Despite the fact that many television programs, animated films, and children's books highlight it or even beg kids to associate the word with the face of the emotion (for example, an angry face would be represented by a red, frowning face). I'm not sure whether kids are grasping the actual meaning of emotion or what caused them to experience it, let alone recognize it. More frequent promotion of this method in homes and classrooms is necessary. For example, Timothy was angry with Brian and sat by himself for lunch. As they lined up for restroom time, Brian retreated and stepped on Timothy's foot. When Timothy yelled "oww," Brian turned around and looked at him before laughing. His rage caused Timothy to withdraw from others. In this case, both students ought to be separated. One can question what initially infuriated Timothy—the hurt he experienced when Brian stepped on his foot, his laughter, or the fact that he didn't offer an apology. This starts the conversation with Timothy. From Brian's perspective, this is an example of teaching kids to accept responsibility for their actions, acknowledge their mistakes, provide an apology, and be aware of such circumstances in the future. Lastly, instead of telling Brian, "Hey, that's not funny, you stepped on my foot, it hurts," In this situation, Timothy distanced himself, which meant he didn't express the feelings he was really feeling.

As we are all aware, mental health is crucial throughout childhood, youth, and adulthood. Being emotionally healthy enables you to function effectively at work and manage daily stressors. The following are just a few of the six techniques for enhancing your emotional well-being: