We all feel and experience emotions. From the moment we wake up, to our daily routine, and settling down at night—we deal with a range of positive and negative thoughts and feelings across our day.
But have you ever stopped to consider why you may be feeling certain emotions?
Emotional regulation can be defined by how we are able to manage and respond to our feelings and thoughts.
For example, we may feel accomplished and proud of ourselves after a run, or sad when our football team loses at the weekend.
There are a range of positive and negative techniques for behavioural regulation, which will help you understand these thoughts and better respond to them.
Emotional Awareness and Self-Regulation
We all tend to use emotional self-regulation across our day. Many of us have the emotional awareness and intelligence to adapt to the demands of our environments.
While some of these responses are healthy, others may not be. In fact, poor emotional regulation can lead to a series of negative consequences:
- alcohol or drug abuse
- self-injury or harm
- avoiding or keeping away from some demanding situations
- physically or verbally aggressive behaviour
- exclusion of some activities in favour for others.
On the flipside, self-regulation with a positive mindset can lead to a renewed focus and opportunities.
Some of these emotional regulation outcomes include:
- exercise
- talking with acquaintances
- therapy
- meditation
- sleeping well
- writing thoughts down.
It is crucial that we understand our emotional triggers and when to act on them. This comes down to emotional regulation and managing our emotions in a positive way.
For example, you may have experienced a bad day at work. Instead of coming home and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, you could meditate or write in your journal.
This comes down to you picking and influencing your emotions; including when they arrive, and how they dominate your thinking.
This type of behavioural regulation will ensure that you have a positive experience with your emotions, and rebound from the perils of life in a successful way.
Can I Take Control of My Emotions?
It may seem like a challenging task but taking control of your emotions in a positive way can alter your way of life.
Emotional intelligence can quickly stamp out any intense feelings of negativity. Through this, you can learn to accept bad thoughts or experiences, let them pass, and learn from them.
Importantly, a good emotional regulation meaning allows us to characterise our emotions in a constructive way. This means that instead of defining or thoughts as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, we treat every circumstance as a learning experience.
Seek Help
The Perth Counselling & Psychotherapy team is well versed with positive mindset techniques. We also know and understand the perils of daily life and can help you manage your emotions when they become overwhelming.
Our team of professionals can also help you to build and maintain a healthy routine that deals with poor emotional regulation.
If you are seeking a better understanding of your emotional intelligence, contact us today.
