When we are unaware of our emotions or repress them, they control us. This affects our patience, compassion, decision-making, creativity, and impulse control.
An unrecognized emotion doesn’t just disappear. It’ll find different ways to get its message through to you:
- Snapping at family and friends
- Feeling on edge at work
- Burnout
- Health problems
Labeling is calming because we are validating our own experience. This is a key part of self-compassion and managing emotions.
Labeling guides us to the next best step because once we understand how we feel, we can then figure out what we need and how to get it.
Labeling helps us identify coping tools. For example, if Darius feels joyful and energetic but he is heading into a serious meeting, he could take a few deep breaths to calm himself.
Labeling helps us communicate with others. When we know what we’re feeling, we can articulate it to others and ask for what we need.