Research shows that we have *six core emotions. These emotions and their offshoots (e.g., joy >>> happy, glee, playful, creativity…) flow through us like a river.
Emotions are full of energy and, much like a healthy vibrant river, need to move through us to keep our emotional well-being healthy.
JOURNAL PROMPT: How do you currently manage your emotions? What tools do you have and use?
Before you continue reading about emotions, grab your journal, take 5-10 minutes to reflect on the journal prompt, and then keep reading.
If we don’t engage with our emotions in a healthy way, they get stuck and stagnant. This is when our emotions build up and break the dam in our river metaphor.
In real life, “breaking the dam” can look like yelling at our child, road rage, lashing out at our partner, and so forth.
Instead, we can engage with our emotions in a healthy manner by identifying and managing them.
*There are reports of having a few more or a few less, but the general consensus is six.
