{"id":2850,"date":"2021-05-07T16:04:22","date_gmt":"2021-05-07T20:04:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yogatribes.blog\/en\/?p=2850"},"modified":"2021-05-07T16:54:59","modified_gmt":"2021-05-07T20:54:59","slug":"what-is-emotional-wellness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yogatribes.blog\/en\/what-is-emotional-wellness\/","title":{"rendered":"What is emotional wellness?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A psychotherapist shares what emotional wellness is, along with 7 tips to help you achieve it.<\/h2>\n

Do you remember the last time you laughed out loud with a friend? How about that time you had a job interview and you felt incredibly nervous? Or that time you were frustrated and disappointed something didn\u2019t work out? These are just a few examples of the emotional ups and downs we experience throughout life.<\/p>\n

Being able to recognize and understand our emotions as we move through our daily lives is an important part of living\u00a0a happy and healthy life<\/a>. \u201cOur emotions are indicators. And we can use them as tools. They can help us work through expectations, solve problems and live happier lives,\u201d says\u00a0Elena Mikhaylova<\/a>. She has a PhD in Psychology and is a Registered Psychotherapist with Bayridge Counselling Centres. We sat down with Mikhaylova to learn about emotional wellness.<\/p>\n

What is emotional wellness?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cEmotional wellness is our ability to be aware of and understand our emotions so we can manage stress and difficulties in our life successfully,\u201d Mikhaylova says.<\/p>\n

She says being emotionally well isn\u2019t about being positive all the time or controlling your emotions. \u201cWhen we experience things like stress or loss, it\u2019s important to process these emotions and not suppress them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Part of being a human being means having challenges. However, it\u2019s how you deal with those issues that determines your emotional wellness, Mikhaylova says.<\/p>\n

How to improve emotional wellness<\/strong><\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Trust yourself.\u00a0<\/strong>Mikhaylova says it\u2019s important to trust yourself. \u201cYou need to not only trust your emotions but trust in your ability to feel and interpret your emotions.\u201d<\/li>\n
  2. Listen to your emotions.\u00a0<\/strong>It\u2019s important to listen to what your emotions are telling you, says Mikhaylova. And don\u2019t shy away from big feelings, she warns. \u201cWe can\u2019t neglect our emotions or skip them in an attempt to overcome them.\u201d<\/li>\n
  3. Reflect on your emotions.<\/strong>\u00a0Journaling is a very helpful tool, says Mikhaylova. \u201cThis allows you to increase your awareness by reflecting and assessing your emotions as you navigate your day. For example, you felt good waking up, but your mood took a dive when you opened your email. Journaling can help you discover the trigger. And when you know the trigger, you can work to make improvements or make a change.\u201d<\/li>\n
  4. Explore what makes you happy and what doesn\u2019t.<\/strong>\u00a0Mikhaylova says it\u2019s important to recognize what makes you happy in life. Likewise, it\u2019s important to take stock of what\u2019s making you unhappy. \u201cWhen you identify what makes you unhappy you can work to address it.\u201d This will help make you more emotionally content, contributing to your emotional wellness. Mikhaylova says it\u2019s helpful to have a list of things that make you happy. \u201cWhen you\u2019re not feeling great, it\u2019s good to have a list of things that you know will make you feel better. Something like a cup of tea or exercise. Then use it to help lift your mood. You are the only person who\u2019s responsible for your mood.\u201d<\/li>\n
  5. Learn to express your emotions in an appropriate way.<\/strong>\u00a0Mikhaylova says that if you\u2019re angry with someone, don\u2019t yell at them or say, ‘You made me angry.\u201d \u201cStart by saying \u2018I feel angry\u2019 and then name what\u2019s upset you,\u201d Mikhaylova says. This invites empathy from the other person. An accusation, however, puts people on the defensive, making it hard to have a productive conversation.<\/li>\n
  6. Differentiate yourself from material objects.<\/strong>\u00a0In our society, material objects are the goal for many people. A big house, a fancy car and nice clothes. \u201cBut objects don\u2019t make us happy,\u201d says Mikhaylova. Meaningful relationships, a sense of purpose and fulfilling activities \u2014 these are all things that can make us happy. \u201cAcknowledge and reward yourself for being happy, not for what you buy,\u201d says Mikhaylova.<\/li>\n
  7. Connect with a mental health professional.<\/strong>\u00a0Mikhaylova suggests\u00a0working with a mental health professional<\/a>\u00a0to improve your emotional wellness. \u201cThis is especially important if your emotions are painful or hard for you to deal with. Working with a therapist can also be fruitful even if you\u2019re feeling okay. Perhaps you just want to function better.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Mikhaylova says that group therapy can also be beneficial. \u201cBecause of COVID-19, emotional well-being has decreased for a lot of people. Group therapy allows you to meet up with other people to share stories and experiences. It lets you see how other people are managing, which can be very beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Mikhaylova emphasizes that emotions are important signs and to take notice of them. \u201cThis is how we speak to ourselves. We need to trust them and use them to develop a good emotional well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Get the support you need<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Being able to navigate and understand your emotions is important, but sometimes they can be hard to deal with on your own. If you think you could benefit from speaking with someone, Lumino Health can help\u00a0connect you with a mental health professional<\/a>\u00a0offering virtual or in-person appointments.<\/p>\n

    Written for Lumino Health by Kristen Mayne in consultation with\u00a0<\/em>Elena Mikhaylova<\/em><\/a>, Registered Psychotherapist.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Photo by Aziz Acharki<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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