Human experience has amply revealed that it is our inability, rather the lack of skill, to handle our emotions that is the cause of disturbance and anarchy. Easier said than done, managing our emotions requires a skill to be practised mindfully from very young. And, it is never too late to start.
Our emotional space
August 21, 2024by Editorial Team
A ringside view of human emotions
Emotions are those feelings that evoke a complex response such as happiness, love, fear, anger or hatred created by the situation we are in. These can sometimes feel like a rollercoaster, taking us on unexpected highs and lows. They are signals from our mind, guiding us through different experiences.
Complex emotional situations
What happens when emotions threaten to overwhelm us? Let us consider a few situations. Picture a scene where you are at your sister’s birthday party when all of a sudden someone you were not on good terms with, walks in and starts teasing you. Do you let your anger takeover or remain composed? For those who want to become successful professionals, we feel sad or upset when our venture does not do well. Managing these emotions can be challenging, but it is crucial to stay focused and motivated. Emotional resilience becomes crucial in such situations.
Expressing emotions is commonplace, especially for teenagers. When one of our family members falls sick when we are together on an outstation family trip, how do we control our emotions ? Such a situation evokes complex responses such as anger, some guilt and sadness. How do we deal with this disappointment when we know we might not get another chance for such a trip?
Thoughts on emotional management
We have all been in situations, be it school, home or with friends, where our emotions have got the better of us. It is the ability to manage our emotions that helps us avoid awkward moments, allows us to maintain control and steer the situation in a positive direction.When we feel overwhelmed or upset, the first thing to do is to ask ourselves why we are feeling that way. Probing into ourselves, we can try to understand the root cause of our emotions so that we can manage them better.
Emotional control starts with awareness, or acknowledging our emotions, whereby we recognize the triggers behind them and try to understand why we feel the way we do. Next, we should practise pausing and reflecting before reacting. In the example mentioned above, it may be wiser to remain calm and even engage in polite conversation that can help defuse the situation.
Managing emotions is not about suppressing them; it is about mastering them. Staying calm can help us navigate any situation , be it our personal or professional life, with confidence and grace. We are all endowed with this skill, and it is up to us to master it. Even in moments of disappointment, seeking support and focusing on positive actions can help us manage our emotions and move forward.
Another way to address emotions is by connecting with them rather than ignoring them. Just as we embrace our moments of happiness and celebrate our achievements, it is worth acknowledging our feelings of disturbance or sadness and allow ourselves to process them. This can help maintain our emotional balance.Receiving encouragement and setting new goals can help one turn a negative experience into a motivating challenge, demonstrating how support and perseverance can transform setbacks into opportunities for growth.
About the authors
The article has been contributed by the following students from St. Anselm’s Senior Secondary School, Abu Road, Rajasthan: Lavanaya Rajpurohit, Dhairya Panjwani, Bhavya Chouhan, Jigyasa Dave, Jayin Trivedi and Roshni Hemant Manglani.