I often sit and wonder why I feel the way I feel. I think I have a pretty good read on my emotional well-being, but sometimes I get anxious, or short, and I’m not sure why. Am I stressed, sad, or irritated by something I didn’t realize was bothering me? I want to be more in touch with what’s bothering me when I’m struggling.
Over the last couple of months I have taken the time to journal, and tried to identify what’s bringing on certain emotions. What was going on at that time? Did something happen, or did something creep up from the past? It’s been enlightening to see where some of my emotions come from. Self-evaluation and identifying your emotions is a huge step in the journey to get to an overall healthy mental state.
Now, I don’t have a medical degree of any kind, so I spent a whole bunch of time reading. I needed to be able to address my emotions, evaluate them, and then find a healthy way to work through them. I put together the best information and the pieces I felt were the most impactful to me in this process. Here’s what I came up with…..
Understanding Yourself, One Emotion at a Time
You need to first understand those emotions. Have you ever felt a mix of emotions that you couldn’t quite pinpoint? Or perhaps you’ve struggled to understand why you react the way you do in certain situations? If so, as I said before, you’re not alone. Self-evaluation is a powerful tool that can help you gain a deeper understanding of your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
Why Self-Evaluation Matters
Regular self-evaluation offers numerous benefits that can lead to a more fulfilling, and less stressful life.
- Increased Self-Awareness: I know I try very hard sometimes to not deal with some of the yuck in my life. But by reflecting on your emotions, you can gain a clearer picture of your inner world.
- Improved Relationships: Understanding your emotions can help you communicate more effectively with others. It has definitely made a difference in my relationships. I’m better equipped to let someone know how I’m feeling and why.
- Enhanced Decision-Making: We all know we’ve made some pretty poor decisions when we’re angry. Emotional intelligence can lead to better decision-making, both personally and professionally.
- Reduced Stress: Stuffing all those emotions, and the baggage behind them is a heavy load to carry. It causes anxiety, and increases the amount of stress in our lives. By identifying and managing your emotions, you can reduce that stress and anxiety.
Tips for Effective Self-Evaluation
- Journaling: Write about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This can help you identify patterns and triggers. Journaling definitely gave me a clearer picture what I was feeling, and what the basis behind it was.
- Mindfulness Meditation: Practice mindfulness to become more aware of your present moment experiences, including your emotions.
- Seek Feedback: Keith and I talk all the time. He has been valuable in helping me walk through situations, and helping me identify and work through some emotions. Ask trusted friends, family members, or colleagues for honest feedback on your behavior and communication style.
- Reflect on Past Experiences: I know the past is sometime hard to think about, but it holds valuable information for growth. Look at past situations where you experienced strong emotions. What triggered those emotions, and how did you react?
Identifying Your Emotions
- Label Your Emotions: Use specific emotion words to describe your feelings, such as anger, sadness, joy, or fear. You can’t work on it if you don’t know what it is.
- Understand the Difference: Pay attention to the subtle differences between emotions, such as frustration and anger or contentment and joy.
- Challenge Negative Thoughts: If you’re feeling negative emotions, challenge negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. Change the perspective of what you can learn from the situation. See the good, no matter how small, that comes from that situation.
I’ve included this emotions wheel. If gives you specific words to help label the variety of emotions. Once you can identify the emotion, then you can start working on what’s behind it, and how you can move through it to a healthier place.
I know that many of us had been told to push our emotions down deep inside us. We are not supposed to show fear or anger, and for some even excitement. Pushing those emotions down means we are not feeling, and we have to know how we are feeling, so we can find our way to mental healthiness.
By taking the time to understand yourself, you can unlock your full potential and live a more fulfilling life. Remember, self-evaluation is an ongoing process, so be patient with yourself and celebrate your progress. For my on our current health series see Living Kismet’s Health page.
