This is not a judgment, just a question. Did your family teach you emotional literacy and managing emotions? Did they teach you how to manage emotions in a healthy way? Did they teach you to validate, observe, connect and express emotions? If so, I am so incredibly glad! Families and schools often teach physical hygiene, dental hygiene, healthy eating, the importance of exercise, reading and writing, math, science, etc., but when it comes to managing emotions, so many people get the messages: “Suck it up, buttercup!” “Don’t cry or I’ll give you something to cry about!” “You should just be grateful.” “Don’t be sad. Have you tried being happy?”
Emotions, for many, remain a big mystery because many families never learned, developed, or taught emotional literacy. It’s like watching a magician perform an amazing trick, and then once you learn how it’s done, it takes the mystery away for you. Same thing with emotions- once you learn how to develop your Emotional Intelligence (EQ), and emotional literacy, your feelings will be less of a mystery and more of an opportunity to grow personal insight, develop healthy boundaries, as well as name, express, and feel your feelings, all while increase connections with the world around you.
You might be thinking “easier said than done.” I know, I have had to develop these skills and put them into practice daily as well. Through managing emotions, I continue to learn about myself, which helps me set personal goals and feel like I am intentionally choosing how I interact and respond (not react) to people and circumstances. I want to help take the mystery of emotions away for you too, even if it’s a little bit. Emotions might feel like your enemy right now. I hope that as time goes on, you start seeing them as an extension of you, worth getting to experience, pay attention to, explore, express, and validate. You are worth getting to know!
