Do we need to be in touch with our emotions?
Is there value to being in touch with your emotions?
You might read this question, knowing it comes from me, and be like - yea, duh. Isn’t that your whole thing??
But let’s wipe the slate clean and see what arises.
If you’re a yes, and you believe there is value to being in touch with your emotions, why? Why is it helpful? And if you’re a no then why not..?
Maybe you quickly fall into one answer-camp or another. Or maybe you find that what’s coming up for you falls somewhere in between.
In retreat this past month, I started off a session with this question. What unfolded was beautiful… A rich conversation digging into things like:
What do we mean when we say “emotions?”
The answer isn’t so much a “yes or no,” but more like a “how and when?”
Aren’t there times when it’s good not to process our emotions?
Some people are more naturally attuned to their emotions and others aren’t. What’s up with that?
The exchanges took us into cool, deep places quickly. Unpacking what the fields of neuroscience and clinical psychology are teaching us:
Like the difference between core emotions (anger, sadness, fear…) and inhibitory emotions (anxiety, guilt, shame).
That inhibitory emotions (ones that push down core emotions) can be adaptive in small amounts and certain circumstances.
And that similar to other types of intelligences and orientations (like sexuality), emotional sensitivity falls on a spectrum, so we all have different needs.
Ultimately each of us arrived at a more nuanced answer about how best to be in relationship with our emotions. Answers that were varied and unique to each of us as individuals.
For some it was seeing it can help them be more aware of their needs and values; what they care about and what’s important to them.
For others it had to do with boundaries. Signals about when to say no, take action, or get support. How that helps reduce burn out.
And for others it had to do with relationships. Seeing how it helps with communication. Reduces reactivity. And heals unhealthy cycles.
And then for others it was just about feeling better. Period.
Below is a lil snippet from my new Emotions 101 with Yoga course about the benefits I see, especially for changemakers.
But really, whether you see yourself as a “changemaker” or not (which, I’d argue, we all are in our own way), emotions education and the work to better understand ourselves from the inside out holds so many benefits for all of us.
It’s key to our collective healing.
What do you think?
📸: Anne PM www.unsplash.com
Hi, I’m Liz Moyer Benferhat. Writer, facilitator, coach, and development practitioner dedicated to the subtle interplay between how inner transformation feeds the outer transformation we need in the world. Welcome 🌿