How to understand our feelings
“It’s not about feeling better, it’s about getting better at feeling.” -Gabor Maté
How often are you able to actually identify how you are feeling? I invite my clients to tap into their feelings in the moment together, often times they struggle with actually identifying a feeling. Instead, they just keep talking and have a difficult time disconnecting from the head & connecting to the heart and body. I try my best to slow them down, acknowledge what is happening and invite them again to truly slow down and identify how they are feeling.
Our emotions are ever-present and for some of us constantly evolving. It is crucial and a helpful practice to learn how to identify our feelings and allow ourselves to feel them.
We cannot just live in the world of our emotions, but we first need to allow ourselves to feel them. It is not about managing or suppressing our emotions. It is valuable learning how to manage our reactions to our emotions. But first, we must feel.
Understanding our feelings can be a challenging, but rewarding, task. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life and push our emotions aside, but taking the time to process and understand our feelings can lead to greater self-awareness and improved mental health. Here are some tips for understanding your feelings:
Pay attention to your physical sensations. Our bodies often give us clues about our emotional state. For example, a racing heart or tense muscles might indicate anxiety, while a heavy feeling in the chest might suggest sadness. By paying attention to these physical sensations, we can better understand what we’re feeling.
Label your emotions. Putting words to our emotions can help us understand what we’re feeling and why. It can also help us communicate our feelings to others.
Reflect on the situation. Try to think about what might have triggered your emotions. What was happening at the time? How did you react? Understanding the situation that led to your feelings can give you greater insight into yourself.
Practice self-compassion. It’s important to be kind to ourselves when we’re feeling overwhelmed or upset. Rather than beating ourselves up, try to offer yourself the same kindness and understanding you would offer to a friend.
By taking the time to understand our feelings, we can become more self-aware and better equipped to manage our emotions. So, don't hesitate to take some time to reflect on your feelings and learn more about yourself. If you are interested in practicing this more in depth, working with a psychologist can be beneficial. Feel free to contact us to find a right therapist in Los Angeles who can help you better understand your feelings.
