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:
Build resilience
Reduce stress
Get quality sleep
Strengthen social connections
Cope with loss
Be mindful
Stay healthy and remember to take care of yourself and others.
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