Have you ever tried to focus on an important task while feeling irritated or upset? That nagging emotional state isn't just an inconvenience—it's your brain processing critical data that demands your attention. Welcome to episode 12 of the Wellness Minute, where we dive into the science of emotions and discover why the simple act of naming our feelings can transform our mental clarity.
Drawing from evolutionary psychology and the groundbreaking work of Paul Ekman, we explore the five universal emotions—joy, fear, sadness, anger, and disgust—and why each serves a vital purpose in our lives. Fear protects us from danger, joy tells us when we can relax, sadness indicates what matters to us, anger alerts us to threats, and disgust helps us avoid harmful substances. Rather than viewing emotions as inconveniences, we can recognize them as sophisticated data processing systems evolved to keep us safe and help us thrive.
When overwhelming emotions arise, I share a simple yet powerful practice: pause, breathe, and ask "What am I feeling?" Through a personal story of how acknowledging sadness beneath irritability created immediate relief, I demonstrate how naming emotions without judgment activates the organized part of our brain. This paradoxical approach—focusing briefly on feelings to ultimately free our focus for other tasks—works because emotions are like persistent children; they'll continue demanding attention until acknowledged. Try this practice yourself, and for a delightful exploration of emotional intelligence the whole family can enjoy, watch Pixar's "Inside Out" this weekend. Your feelings aren't weaknesses to overcome—they're valuable data waiting to be processed.
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Opening Music by Jeremiah Alves from Pixabay
Closing Music by Aleksandr Karabanov from Pixabay
Thank you for listening,
much metta,
Dr G
