Many people believe that the human mind is what gives identity to each of us, something that constitutes, ultimately, the essence of each person. But while it is true that each individual is a world and that it is relatively easy to distinguish between the way of being of different people, that does not mean that the mind does not change. In fact, in the world of psychology change is the norm, not the exception
Given that whether we like it or not, both we and the world in which we live are going to undergo a process of change, what we must do is not try to keep everything the same, frozen in time, but rather develop the necessary skills to adapt as best we can. possible to the experiences we go through, even those that are totally new. In this sense, the concept of emotional awareness It helps us understand one of the most important and at the same time most forgotten aspects of the processes of change: the world of emotions and feelings.
The concept of emotional awareness is not easy to explain in a single line, since it refers to the most complex component of the human mind: emotions. However, in summary, it can be understood as the state in which we come to understand the patterns of emotional activation so that instead of passively witnessing their first-person experience, we can make them work in our favor, depending on the personal development objectives that we have set for ourselves
Thus, emotional awareness has to do with a set of skills that can be applied on a daily basis, both for oneself as an individual and in group phenomena through leadership. At the same time, progressing in the mastery of these skills does not exactly have to do with learning theoretical knowledge, but with applying new dynamics and new approaches to our ways of relating to the environment and our own mental processes
In short, emotional awareness arises as a consequence of experiential learning.
Examples on how to develop it
Below you will find several general guidelines that give an idea of ​​the type of activities and habits related to the development of emotional awareness.
1. Questioning one’s own motives
Much of what we do or think is not based on the motives and purposes that we usually have in mind when we have to justify what we do. This idea, which was popularized by Sigmund Freud but which had already been commented on by others before him and which in recent decades has been validated by numerous studies in the line of research of limited rationality, has implications when it comes to relating to our emotions. . Because many times we create moral alibis that hide what really makes us feel bad or good about something.
So that, stop to analyze what psychological mechanisms are really behind many of our attitudes It is liberating, because it allows us to understand the root of some predispositions that create problems for us on a daily basis.
2. Take advantage of the environment to regulate emotions
People are not islands; What they do and think depends on what is happening around them. Therefore, we can modify the environment to enter emotional states that help us achieve our goals.
3. Distance yourself from your own perspective
Although it may seem paradoxical, adopting a distanced perspective can help us better understand what we feel. Being totally involved in an emotion It does not have to lead us to know better what is happening; In fact, it can blind us.
4. Go to courses
It is possible to train emotional awareness by relying on courses that contain content specifically aimed at training the skills linked to this psychological facet.
The European School of Coaching, for example, offers a specialized training program, aimed especially at psychologists and coaches Among its objectives are the task of recognizing and managing the emotions involved in everyday life, understanding the biological processes behind them, and using the potential of our ability to modulate emotional states in ourselves or in other people who need help in this. aspect. You will find more information about this program by accessing the EEC’s contact details by clicking here.
5. Learn to control time
There are times when it is better to postpone certain decisions, depending on how we feel. Knowing how to do this without it becoming procrastination is something that can be very useful to achieve the best possible results in those projects that we set our sights on.
