Ever wonder why you sometimes act completely out of character? Those moments when you snap at a coworker or make an impulsive decision that leaves you thinking, "That wasn't like me at all"? This episode dives deep into the hidden emotional forces that drive our behaviors without our awareness.
Starting with the famous Richard Sherman "You mad, bro?" meme, I share my personal journey of emotional awareness that began in childhood therapy following my parents' divorce. Armed with nothing but a simplistic understanding that I was either "angry" or "fine," a therapist's deck of emotion cards opened my eyes to the vast spectrum of human feelings—embarrassment, loneliness, joy, disappointment—that I had been unable to identify in myself. This breakthrough not only transformed my self-understanding but later became crucial in navigating my marriage with Katie.
Drawing on Carl Jung's powerful concept of the shadow self—the unconscious part of our psyche that's like the massive portion of an iceberg hidden beneath the water—we explore how our unacknowledged emotions drive behaviors we don't understand. I share a recent experience with my 19-year-old son making a potentially life-altering decision while emotionally vulnerable, introducing the practical HALT method (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) for recognizing when emotions might be compromising our judgment. Through personal stories and psychological insights, this episode offers a roadmap for developing greater self-awareness by asking not just "Am I mad?" but "What am I really feeling beneath the surface?"
Ready to develop a deeper understanding of your emotional landscape and make better decisions even when feelings run high? Listen now, and be sure to subscribe for our follow-up episode on maintaining balance despite emotional turbulence.
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