Processing Emotions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Emotional Well-Being"
Emotions are a natural part of being human and everyone experiences them differently. However, processing emotions is an important aspect of our mental and emotional wellbeing that often gets neglected yet is an effective way to move forward.
Recognising, identifying, and sharing emotions is essential to our self-awareness and personal growth. It’s essential for healthy relationships in our personal and professional lives.
Sometimes emotions are so intense, confusing, or overwhelming that we’re at a loss for how to express them or even identify them.
Here are some tips to help you process your emotions:
Identify your emotions: The first step in processing your emotions is to identify what emotions you’re feeling. Try to name the specific emotion you are experiencing, for example, anger, sadness, happiness, fear, or surprise.
Validate your emotions: Once you've identified your emotions, it's important to validate them. This means acknowledging that your emotions are real and valid, and that it's okay to feel this way.
For example, you might say/write to yourself:
I’m feeling sad because I’ve just experienced ____ and that’s ok, I’m allowed to feel this way.
Find a safe space: Find a safe place where you can process your emotions without being interrupted or judged. This could be a quiet room in your house, a park, or a coach or therapist's office.
Express your emotions: Once you're in a safe space, express your emotions. This could be through journaling, talking to someone you trust, or doing a physical activity to release the energy associated with your emotion.
This will allow the emotion the space it needs and allows you to process it without it taking up too much unnecessary time and allows it to pass, rather than stick and hold in your body. This is the process of experiencing an emotion and allowing the sensation to pass through the body rather than distracting or suppressing it and allowing it to stay stuck and effecting your wellbeing.
Practice self-care: Taking care of yourself is important when processing emotions. This can include doing things that make you feel good, like taking a bath, going for a walk, or meditating.
It’s okay to seek support from others when processing your emotions. This could be from friends, family, or a mental health professional.
Remember that everyone processes emotions differently and it's important to find what works best for you. Don't be afraid to experiment and try different approaches until you find what helps you process your emotions in a healthy way.
