“Emotions influence every action we take. So the more we are aware of our feelings, the more we gain conscious control over our lives.” Jessica Moore
When we hear the term “emotional well-being” we often think of happiness, joy, contentment, and other positive emotions.
However, emotional wellness is so much more than that!
It is also about navigating stress, anger, grief, and other negative emotions. It also leads to a more radiant life.
Someone who is emotionally healthy is aware of their emotions and has the ability to cope with life’s ups and downs and as well we all know life is filled with them.
Psychology Today defines emotional well-being as “the ability to practice stress-management and relaxation techniques, be resilient, boost self-love, and generate the emotions that lead to good feelings.”
Learning to first be aware of our emotions, then gathering the tools to navigate life’s challenges, can make all the difference in creating a happy and healthy life.
So the great news is we actually have the power within us to make simple changes that can lead to richer and more satisfying lives,
Becoming Aware and Acknowledging Our Feelings
“It is important to acknowledge all your feelings and not beat yourself up for having them. Your feelings are not good or bad, they just are.” Iylanla Vanzant
The first step in improving our emotional well-being is to simply be aware of and acknowledge our feelings and emotions.
Women especially have a tendency to just “push through” whatever is going on in their lives without allowing themselves to truly feel or even acknowledge the emotions they may be experiencing.
How do we break this cycle?
One way to do this, according to Anger Management Coach, Dr. John Schinnerrer, is by “becoming more aware of when you’re angry or upset in the present moment then looking at the emotion in a nonjudgmental and curious way. So instead of beating yourself up, acknowledge how you are feeling and think about ways to cope.”
Unexpressed emotions can lead to so many health issues, after all, everything is energy and it has to go somewhere in our bodies if we don’t let it out, right?
In her book, You Can Heal Your Life, author and motivational speaker Louise Hay talked about how limiting beliefs and suppressed emotions can often be the cause of illness.
Learning to identify emotions and express them in a healthy way improves our health, relationships, and overall emotional well-being.
Welcome All Emotions For Emotional Well-Being
“When we welcome all emotions as teachers, every emotion offers wisdom, especially those that are painful.” GratitudeHabitat.com
Once we have raised our awareness and acknowledged our emotions both positive and negative, it is important to make space for them and not just discount or try to quickly move past them.
Many times we have these uncomfortable feelings come up and it is natural to want to just get rid of them by either suppressing or wanting to quickly “fix” them.
However, the most beneficial thing to do is to process them by actually “being” with our feelings and accepting them.
Get curious and find where they are in your body and allow yourself to give them space.
Ask yourself questions about those feelings while at the same time giving yourself the compassion you would give a dear friend.
Practice Mindfulness
“With mindfulness, you can establish yourself in the moment in order to touch the wonders of life that are available in that moment. “ Thich Nhat Hahn
Mindfulness is such a simple concept and yet so many of us are living our lives either on autopilot or jumping from the past to the future, never really taking in the only true essence of reality…this moment.
Mindfulness means being completely aware of what is happening in the present moment and all that is happening in and around you.
Practicing mindfulness has been proven to lower stress, reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and even help people cope with pain.
Our beautiful bodies are so adept at letting us know when we are out of balance by sending feelings and emotions like anxiety or fear signaling us that we may be worrying about the future or sadness if we are focused on the past.
We can use these emotions as reminders to take a deep breath, use our 5 senses, and anchor ourselves right where we need to be…in this moment.
There are all kinds of simple things you can do to bring yourself into the here and now.
Start with focusing on your breath…feeling the gentle sensation of life-giving prana (energy) filling your body then peacefully gently releasing.
Notice the sweet smells and the peacefulness that flows through your body with each inhalation, seeing what is all around you, where your feet are, and the sensations in your body.
Now try that same practice with cooking, eating, washing the dishes…noticing how the most mundane tasks become so enjoyable.
Exercise & Connecting to Nature
“Exercise is really for the brain, not the body. It affects mood, vitality, alertness and feelings of well-being.” John Raley
We all know that physical exercise supports a healthy body but it is also one of the best ways to support our emotional state by reducing stress, releasing endorphins, boosting our mood, and alleviating depression.
Going for a walk, practicing yoga, tai chi, or hopping on your bike are all great ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine.
Turning on your favorite music and “dancing as if no one was watching” is another fun way to burn off steam and uplift your spirits.
Spending time in nature connecting with the “real world” and anchoring ourselves in that peace is incredibly beneficial to our body, mind, and spirit.
Earthing is another powerful tool that many people may not even know about. There is some intriguing research on the incredible healing effects of this practice of connecting with mother earth by simply placing our bare feet on the ground and allowing her healing energies to flow through us.
Just remember…..Anything that feels good gets you out in nature and moves your body is great medicine for your body, mind, and spirit!
Technology Breaks Lead To Emotional Well-Being
“Sometimes we need to disconnect in order to reconnect with what really matters.” Unknown
Yes, you too can turn your phone and computer off for a few hours or even longer and enjoy the benefits of disconnecting from social media and technology altogether.
While social media is meant to connect us, overuse can leave us feeling discontent and lonely.
We are living in a world that moves so fast and the constant barrage from social media leaves us feeling like we have to respond to everything instantaneously.
Here are some useful tips to effectively disconnect from social media.
It can be very satisfying to unplug and give yourself the time to be free from distractions and interruptions and simply just be.
Establish Healthy Social Connections
Humans are social beings and having meaningful relationships and feeling connected is critical to our physical and mental health.
Sometimes we struggle to find the time to nurture our current relationships or establish new social connections in our lives or maybe we just don’t know how to connect anymore.
Stay curious…sign up for a class, learn something new, tap into your creativity, and meet new people.
Volunteer for things you care about in your community and share your gifts with others. You will be surprised how much joy you can bring into your life by giving back.
Spending time in a community of like-minded people can bring a strong sense of connection and belonging, boosting our emotional health and well-being.
Practice Gratitude
“If the only prayer you ever said was thank you, that would be enough.” Ekhart Tolle
Ahhhhh gratitude…one of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves and others. People who practice gratitude are overall more optimistic, happier and less stressed.
This simple practice moves us into a space of looking for the good in the world, in others and even in ourselves.
Motivational author and speaker Wayne Dyer, reminded us that every experience is an opportunity to express gratitude, and when we practice that our life becomes more magical and more fulfilling than we could ever imagine.
So take a few moments to begin and end your day with a little gratitude list and in doing so you will create a habit of seeing what is good in the world, yourself, and others.
Final Thoughts: Are You Ready to Improve Your Emotional Well-Being?
Go to www.radiantwisewoman.com for more fresh insights + tools for enjoying your happiest, healthiest, most fulfilled life!
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Lee Sumner Irwin is on a mission to share her dramatic pro-age vision with women. An award-winning teacher, coach, and international retreat leader with 30 years of experience, she empowers women to unlock new possibilities for feeling vibrant, healthy, and more attractive at any age.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes. The team at Radiant Wise Woman strives to share the knowledge and advice from our own network of experts and our own research. We encourage you to make decisions about your health based in partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.