Why is Emotional Awareness Important?
In my day to day experiences and conversations with people I often find that themes begin to emerge that reflect a current universal life experience. This is the first in a series of Garden Company blog posts that I hope will become a touchstone for you in your business and personal life. And, I invite you to share this with anyone that you feel could benefit from having some personal guidance in their life….
Most of us spend most of our time in mental awareness, identifying with and connecting with our thoughts. In this way, we do not tend to connect with our heart, which is our source of passion, love and caring. To connect with our heart we have to continue to develop our capacity for emotional awareness.
When we practice emotional awareness, we dedicate some of our time to reflecting inward. We stop, take pause in our busy schedule and we feel into ourselves to experience what emotions are stirring. Most people are surprised to find an assortment of unresolved feelings that gather up in the course of just one day – a hurt feeling here, a burst of anger there, pent up frustrations. All of these small experiences begin to add up and it is vital to our well-being that we recognize that each of these emotional triggers is an invitation to do our work to clean up our subconscious baggage.
Here are some reminders that might help:
Pay attention to how often you use the word “think”. Our words are a reflection of what is going on inside and often a trigger for behavior. How often do you ask others what they think about something when you really want to know how they feel?
When we are upset we tend to think about what to do or make arguments for what we are feeling. We often do not identify what we are feeling or what triggered it. When you are upset, try to catch yourself. Before you start rationalizing the feeling ask yourself: “What am I feeling?” Use Plutchik’s Chart of Emotions to check.
The more often you are able to identify the feeling you are having without rationalizing the more proficient you will become at Emotional Awareness.
Try using your Emotional Awareness to communicate better. Instead of telling people what to do, or what they “should” do, try sharing how you feel, and what you want. Ask others how they feel and what they want. This leads to deeper discussions. Avoid projecting feelings on to others by telling them what they feel, just ask. You might be surprised by what you learn.
Develop an Awareness Practice. journaling, yoga, meditating, periodic “breaks” during the day to feel your emotions, breath work, or any practice that lets you settle out of your head and in to your body will help you develop Emotional Awareness.