Emotions
Identify your emotions
Antonio Damasio, a neuroscientist who has devoted his career to studying emotions, explains that emotions are the body’s physical responses to stimuli.
One way to keep from being overwhelmed by these responses is to identify, as accurately as possible, the specific emotion we’re experiencing. Expanding our emotional vocabulary beyond simple labels like “good” or “bad,” or broad categories such as anger, sadness, or happiness, allows us to uncover what lies beneath these general terms.
This not only offers a more compassionate and self-aware perspective but also engages our rational mind, helping us respond with clarity rather than react from a heightened emotional state. This practice is known as “cognitive somatic awareness”.
Remember, no matter how intense and emotion can feel, they are all temporary experiences. They do not define who we are or determine our identity.
When we release judgment toward our emotions, we reduce the likelihood of triggering an amplified nervous system response and instead teach our brain that the emotion is safe, even if it is uncomfortable.
Use this emotion wheel to help identify your current feeling. The more we practice, the richer our emotional vocabulary becomes, leading to greater self-awareness, improved emotional regulation, and a calmer, more balanced mind.
View more emotion wheels HERE
JOURNAL PROMPT
What emotions can you identify from this week?