Learning emotions is necessary in childhood, when our parents teach us that there are emotions and how to manage our own. There are cases when this doesn’t happen because they haven’t been taught it either, so we have to learn emotions later.
Fortunately, this can be learned and improved at any age.
I think the first step in development is recognition: „I realize that I can’t manage my emotions. I recognize them with difficulty or not at all.“
Then comes the period of research, what are your feelings? *
The 6 basic emotions according to William James: joy, sorrow, anger, surprise, fear and disgust.
Notice them every day: in ourselves and in others. Let’s watch the people around us, guess what they might feel; or when watch movies, see their feelings?
But it’s even more important to take care of ourselves.
How do you feel right now?
How does it feel when you see a cute pet somewhere?
What if the courier doesn’t deliver the package on time?
If we get THAT gift from our partner?
If we get a new opportunity that we have never done before?
If we don’t have enough time to get things done?
If we have a nice chat with a nice stranger on the bus?
When we see something truly wonderful?
Anger? Joy? Surprise? Fear? Disgust? Sorrow? Maybe something else?
Just as we pay attention to these seemingly small, yet powerful things every day, we can improve on our journey of self-knowledge and understand those around us more and more easily.
Thus, I recommend everyone’s attention to their feelings. You can also write down your own emotions several times a day, so you can get even closer to yourself.
✨How are you feeling right now? ✨
* Classification of emotions, complex emotions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotion_classification