Well-Being Snippet: Noticing And Naming Emotions

This video is one in a series of short videos that offer practical tools you can carry into your day to reduce stress and cultivate greater well-being.

This short video will offer you a mindful tip for noticing and naming emotions as you go through your day. When we learn to observe and name what is arising, this can help us to step out of automatic reactivity and can help to dial down stress.

This video is purely for educational purposes and is not intended as psychological treatment or intervention of any kind.

Transcript

Hi, I'm Beth Curland, And today I'd like to offer you a really short and simple practice of just noticing and naming emotions. It sounds quite simple, But actually there's a lot of powerful science behind the fact that when we can just notice and name what we're experiencing, It can actually help take and dial down the intensity out of whatever that is so that we're not so caught in the middle of an emotion. We're able to take that half step back and observe what's happening. So as you go through your day to notice that it's easy for us to maybe just kind of say, Oh, I'm angry. But bring a little bit of curiosity to whatever that is. So first of all, The noticing in the first place. And then as you name it to really. Take some interest in, Is this anger? Is this frustration? Is this irritation? Am I feeling hurt? Am I feeling disappointed? Something else going on so that you really become Um, More skillful at differentiating some of these little nuances of our emotions and then just pause for a moment you might put your hand on your heart if you're in a place where you can do that you feel comfortable doing that And to just breathe for a moment, To just let yourself. Notice and experience whatever that sensation is in your body and how it's showing up. And then you might move forward into your day. And you can practice this with more difficult emotions. You could also practice this with more renewing and replenishing emotions. When you're aware of feeling a moment of calm or peace, Those are really moments to savor and take in. And so that can be powerful to pause and do this with that as well. And I hope this is useful for you as you go forward into your day and into your week. Take good care.