Emotional Processing
It’s easy to get swept up in the daily hustle and bustle of life. We often go about our days on autopilot, feeling like we’re just getting through one thing after another without taking a moment to think about how we’re doing it all. The truth is that if we don’t slow down, take care of ourselves, and allow ourselves to experience what’s going on inside of us—both mentally and physically—we’re going to eventually burn out. One way that people can start taking care of their emotional well-being is by learning how to process their emotions in order to become happier people overall.
Be open to emotions.
While it’s normal to want to ignore or suppress your feelings, this is actually a bad idea. When you do that, it can lead to emotional distress and even mental illness. In order to deal with your emotions in a healthy way, it’s important that you be open about them: don’t judge yourself for having certain emotions or try hiding them from others (or even yourself). You should also avoid ignoring or pretending that nothing bothers you; instead of trying not to care about anything at all, focus on finding ways of dealing with those things that do bother you without hurting anyone else in the process.
Don’t rush through your feelings.
If you find yourself rushing through your feelings, stop. Don’t try to ignore them or pretend they don’t exist. Take a deep breath and allow yourself to feel whatever it is that’s happening within you at this moment. If you’re angry or sad or scared, allow yourself to sit with those emotions without trying to force yourself into another state of being just stay present with what is actually happening inside of you right now–and don’t be afraid of those feelings!
Don’t try to make sense of your feelings.
It’s important to remember that emotions are not facts. They’re not good or bad, right, or wrong. They just are. So, when you’re feeling something intense, don’t try to reason with it or figure out why you feel the way you do–it’s not necessary! Instead, allow yourself to feel whatever emotion has come up in its entirety without labelling it as good or bad (or any other label).
When we try to make sense of our feelings while they are happening, we interrupt the natural flow of emotional processing and inhibit their release. This can lead us down an endless rabbit hole of self-doubt: “I’m mad at my friend because he broke my heart last week.” “Why am I so sad? Maybe if I go back over our conversation again…” The more we analyse our emotions, the harder it becomes for them to surface fully into consciousness where they can be experienced fully without judgment from ourselves or others.
Don’t take emotional responsibility for someone else’s behaviour or emotions.
- Don’t take emotional responsibility for someone else’s behaviour or emotions.
- Don’t take responsibility for someone else’s actions.
- Don’t take responsibility for someone else’s thoughts and beliefs, either. Instead of saying “I’m responsible for this person feeling sad,” say something like “this person is experiencing sadness right now.”
Allow yourself to feel sadness, anger, and other emotions without feeling guilty or ashamed of them.
Let’s start with a little perspective. Feelings are not right or wrong, they just happen. They are a normal part of life. You do not have to feel guilty or ashamed of them, because you have no control over your feelings. The only thing you can do is accept them as they come and then choose what action(s) you want to take in response to them!
You may find yourself struggling with this step at first, but don’t worry — it gets easier with practice! For example: if I feel angry about something my spouse said during an argument earlier today (and let’s face it — we all get angry sometimes), instead of beating myself up for being so negative about things (which probably won’t help anything anyway), I simply remind myself that my husband isn’t responsible for how I feel at any given moment; rather than letting him take responsibility for my emotions (which would be unfair), I allow myself time alone while avoiding contact so that neither one of us feels attacked by each other when talking out problems, later on, has become impossible due all those pent-up feelings festering inside each party involved…
Recognize that feeling sad or angry is a normal reaction to difficult circumstances and doesn’t mean that “there is something wrong with you” or “that you’re crazy.”
Emotions are just reactions to events and circumstances in your life–a way for your brain and body to communicate with each other so that they can work together effectively.
Emotions aren’t something we should try to avoid or suppress; rather than fighting them, we need to learn how best to use them as tools for learning from the past and preparing for the future.
Know that experiencing your feelings on an ongoing basis is a healthy process and not something that needs to be avoided at all costs.
You might be wondering, “Isn’t it normal to have feelings? And why does it seem like I should be able to control my emotions? I’m not a robot!”
The answer is yes and no. It’s true that everyone feels things, but we don’t always want those feelings or know how to handle them in healthy ways. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own heads that we forget about the people around us; other times, we’re afraid of being judged if someone sees our vulnerable side–and those fears can make us feel even more alone than usual!
But here’s the thing: experiencing your feelings on an ongoing basis is a healthy process and not something that needs to be avoided at all costs (unless they’re dangerous). In fact, having access to all parts of yourself means being able to connect with others more deeply while also acknowledging your personal needs–and this kind of honesty will ultimately lead to healthier relationships overall.
Avoid judging your own feelings as good or bad, positive, or negative; learn instead from them in order to build resilience and understanding in the future when you may experience similar situations again in the future.
Emotions are neither good nor bad, positive, nor negative. They are simply part of the human experience and can be useful for learning about yourself and others.
Emotions can also be a source of joy, love, and happiness.
Emotional processing is a process that allows you to become more aware of your feelings, understand and accept them, and use them as tools for building resilience when faced with difficult circumstances. It’s important not only because it helps us to be more content as individuals but also because it can help build stronger communities around us if we learn how to listen empathetically without judgment when others share their stories with us.
