What we don't understand about our emotions keeps us from mastering them.
Post published by Amy Morin on Mar 09, 2015 in What Mentally Strong People Don't Do
As a society, we don’t talk much about emotions. Conversations tend
to focus more on what we’re doing or what we’re thinking. In fact, most
people find it easier to start sentences with, “I think…” instead of “I
feel…” simply because it feels less awkward.
Most of us are never educated about feelings. Instead, we’re expected to learn socially acceptable ways to deal with feelings by watching the people around us. But the truth is, many people don't role-model healthy ways to deal with feelings.
Social norms differ over what is considered "acceptable" in terms of managing and talking about feelings. There are many cultural differences about how to identify and manage emotions as well. In fact, most languages have words for certain emotions that don’t have equivalent translations. (Popular Science (link is external) recently shared 21 emotions for which there are no English equivalents).
It’s no wonder there is a lot of confusion about emotions. Here are 8 of the most common misconceptions:
1. "I should feel differently."
So often people say things like, “I know I shouldn’t be so upset over something so little,” or, “I really should be happier than I am.” But there aren’t any rules that dictate that your emotional reaction is wrong. Rather than waste energy beating yourself up, accept that you feel a particular emotion right now and recognize that you have choices in how you react to it.
2. "I can’t control how I feel."
Even though your emotions aren’t wrong, that doesn’t mean you have to stay stuck in a particular mood. You can certainly choose to make changes that will influence the way you feel, by changing the way you think and behave .
3. "Venting will make me feel better."
A widely-held misconception is that if you’re not talking to everyone about your feelings, you must be “suppressing your emotions” or “stuffing your feelings.” But research shows that the opposite is true—at least when it comes to anger. Punching a pillow or calling everyone you know to tell them how bad your day was will only increase your arousal and that won’t make you feel better.
4. "Trying to control my emotions is synonymous with behaving like a robot."
Sometimes people think that regulating their emotions means trying to act as if they don’t have feelings. That’s not the case. A realistic view of emotions shows that we’re capable of experiencing a wide range of emotions, but we don’t have to be controlled by them. After a hard day, choosing to do something to help you feel better—as opposed to staying in a bad mood—is a healthy skill.
5. "Other people have the power to make me feel certain emotions."
So often, people will say things like, “My boss makes me so mad,” or, “My mother-in-law makes me feel bad about myself.” In reality, no one can make you feel anything. Other people may influence how you feel, but you are the only one in charge of your emotions.
6. "I can’t handle uncomfortable emotions."
When people doubt their ability to tolerate certain emotions, it leads to avoidance. Someone who experiences frequent bouts of anxiety may pass up opportunities to be promoted. A person who feels uncomfortable with confrontation may avoid meeting with a co-worker to problem-solve a situation. Learning to deal with uncomfortable emotions directly builds confidence. When you don’t allow your emotions to rule your behavior, you’ll learn you can handle a lot more than you imagined.
7. "Negative emotions are bad."
It’s easy to categorize emotions as being "good" or "bad," but feelings in themselves aren’t positive or negative. It’s what we choose to do with those emotions that makes the difference. Anger, for example, often gets a bad rap. While some people make horrible choices when they’re mad, others choose to use anger in a proactive manner. Many of the world’s positive changes would never have occurred if activists hadn’t gotten angry about injustices they witnessed.
8. "Showing emotion is a sign of weakness."
While it’s a healthy social skill to be able to behave professionally even when you’re not feeling at the top of your game, letting your guard down at socially appropriate times isn’t a sign of weakness. In fact, being aware of your emotions and making a conscious decision to share those emotions with others—when it’s socially appropriate to do so—can be a sign of strength.
Developing an awareness and understanding of your emotions can be difficult when you’re not used to thinking about how you feel. Like most skills in life, your ability to recognize, tolerate and regulate your emotions will improve with practice. Increased emotional self-awareness is key to building mental strength and achieving success in your personal and professional life.
Most of us are never educated about feelings. Instead, we’re expected to learn socially acceptable ways to deal with feelings by watching the people around us. But the truth is, many people don't role-model healthy ways to deal with feelings.
Social norms differ over what is considered "acceptable" in terms of managing and talking about feelings. There are many cultural differences about how to identify and manage emotions as well. In fact, most languages have words for certain emotions that don’t have equivalent translations. (Popular Science (link is external) recently shared 21 emotions for which there are no English equivalents).
It’s no wonder there is a lot of confusion about emotions. Here are 8 of the most common misconceptions:
1. "I should feel differently."
So often people say things like, “I know I shouldn’t be so upset over something so little,” or, “I really should be happier than I am.” But there aren’t any rules that dictate that your emotional reaction is wrong. Rather than waste energy beating yourself up, accept that you feel a particular emotion right now and recognize that you have choices in how you react to it.
2. "I can’t control how I feel."
Even though your emotions aren’t wrong, that doesn’t mean you have to stay stuck in a particular mood. You can certainly choose to make changes that will influence the way you feel, by changing the way you think and behave .
3. "Venting will make me feel better."
A widely-held misconception is that if you’re not talking to everyone about your feelings, you must be “suppressing your emotions” or “stuffing your feelings.” But research shows that the opposite is true—at least when it comes to anger. Punching a pillow or calling everyone you know to tell them how bad your day was will only increase your arousal and that won’t make you feel better.
4. "Trying to control my emotions is synonymous with behaving like a robot."
Sometimes people think that regulating their emotions means trying to act as if they don’t have feelings. That’s not the case. A realistic view of emotions shows that we’re capable of experiencing a wide range of emotions, but we don’t have to be controlled by them. After a hard day, choosing to do something to help you feel better—as opposed to staying in a bad mood—is a healthy skill.
5. "Other people have the power to make me feel certain emotions."
So often, people will say things like, “My boss makes me so mad,” or, “My mother-in-law makes me feel bad about myself.” In reality, no one can make you feel anything. Other people may influence how you feel, but you are the only one in charge of your emotions.
6. "I can’t handle uncomfortable emotions."
When people doubt their ability to tolerate certain emotions, it leads to avoidance. Someone who experiences frequent bouts of anxiety may pass up opportunities to be promoted. A person who feels uncomfortable with confrontation may avoid meeting with a co-worker to problem-solve a situation. Learning to deal with uncomfortable emotions directly builds confidence. When you don’t allow your emotions to rule your behavior, you’ll learn you can handle a lot more than you imagined.
7. "Negative emotions are bad."
It’s easy to categorize emotions as being "good" or "bad," but feelings in themselves aren’t positive or negative. It’s what we choose to do with those emotions that makes the difference. Anger, for example, often gets a bad rap. While some people make horrible choices when they’re mad, others choose to use anger in a proactive manner. Many of the world’s positive changes would never have occurred if activists hadn’t gotten angry about injustices they witnessed.
8. "Showing emotion is a sign of weakness."
While it’s a healthy social skill to be able to behave professionally even when you’re not feeling at the top of your game, letting your guard down at socially appropriate times isn’t a sign of weakness. In fact, being aware of your emotions and making a conscious decision to share those emotions with others—when it’s socially appropriate to do so—can be a sign of strength.
Developing an awareness and understanding of your emotions can be difficult when you’re not used to thinking about how you feel. Like most skills in life, your ability to recognize, tolerate and regulate your emotions will improve with practice. Increased emotional self-awareness is key to building mental strength and achieving success in your personal and professional life.
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