Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

Humans are emotional creatures. Our emotions are a double-edged sword, they can drive us toward success but sadly they can also hold us back.

We certainly cannot stop our emotions. Because they exist to alert and inform us of what requires our attention. And that we must act on the basis of these emotions.

So while we cannot and should not suppress our emotions, it is important that we learn to manage them. This is in order to mold ourselves to become the best versions of ourselves.

How to manage emotions

It is said that we should not make any decisions when we are experiencing extreme emotions. Such as sadness, anger, or happiness. Because our emotions have a way of clouding our judgment. And causing us to commit to something that we may regret later on.

So here are some ways that you can learn to manage your emotions. So that you can avoid regrettable and possibly embarrassing actions or situations. And allow yourself to be more in control of what’s going on in your life.

Be mindful of your emotions

It is important for you to be aware of the physical signs that your body exhibits when experiencing extreme emotions.

For example, you may feel butterflies in your stomach when you feel nervous or anxious. You may experience an increased heart rate when you are afraid. Or you may feel tightness in your throat when you are angry.

By being mindful of these physical representations of your emotions you can then take some steps to manage them before making a move that may prove drastic.

Give yourself time

Emotions aren’t particularly bad as they are. They are, as previously stated, what makes us human.

However, in the heat of extreme emotions, we are prone to acting on our emotions rather than logical reasoning. This could lead to something we later regret.

As such, when you recognize the physical attributes leading to a highly emotional state, it is best to give yourself some time.

Time to breathe. Time to rein in your emotions. And time to think things through.

Reflect on your emotions

It is also important that you take time to reflect on your emotions.

Go through the events that lead to a particular emotion. For instance, if you became angry this morning, what caused the outburst? What could you have done differently to avoid the anger? How do you resolve to overcome this emotion moving forward?

By reflecting on your emotions, you may be able to identify a good plan of action that you can use to avoid negative emotions in the future. Or If it is a positive emotion, you can have a more vivid picture of it imprinted in your memory.

Develop good habits for your emotions

Developing good habits is another excellent way to improve your emotional management and become a better version of yourself. This will give you more control over your emotions.

You can develop a number of habits to help you manage your emotions. Check out the ones listed below; they are simple and easy to put into action, so you can’t go wrong with whatever you think will work best for you.

What would Jesus do?

Before giving in to emotion, especially a negative one, take a moment to consider what Jesus would do. Or perhaps Buddha. Or any higher being you believe in who has the moral ascendancy towards managing emotions.

Think of how they would respond to various stimuli. Will they get a fit? Sulk? Get envious? Nope, don’t think so.

Jesus said, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation”. As such, you should also be mindful of the sources of your emotions so that you don’t agitate yourself unnecessarily.

For example, if watching the news or scrolling through social media makes you feel bad, you should limit your exposure to them.

As another example, if you are about to meet with someone who is extremely negative. You should brace yourself and be prepared with noncommittal responses.

In these situations, it is important that you devise a strategy to keep your emotions in check and avoid being manipulated by a negative person.

Benefits of managing your emotions

When you can manage your emotions, you will have a better understanding of how emotions affect other people.

This understanding will allow you to easily adapt to the mindsets and behaviors of others. You’d have the emotional maturity, capacity, and empathy to channel their emotions toward common goals.

Here are some additional advantages to being able to manage your emotions:

Summary

To summarize, emotions are a human thing, but what distinguishes us from other creatures is our ability to use logical reasoning to manage our emotions. Because our actions and decisions should not be based solely on our emotions.

So here are some ways you can best manage your emotions for a better you:

For sure, managing your emotions will improve you and will help you achieve success.

Please share your thoughts or ideas about How To Best Manage Your Emotions For A Better You in the comments below. And if you liked this article, you might be interested as well in these articles:

Why Good Habits Beat Motivation
How To Define Yourself By Your Habits
9 Effective Habits For A Happy Life
Building Good Habits For Your To Be
7 Tips On How To Develop A Persistent Habit

Small And Easy Habits That Can Change Your Life
Habits To Overcome The Struggle Of Waking Up Early
10 Simple Minimalist Habits You Can Develop
Top 10 Good Habits That Will Change Your Life
5 Reasons Waking Up Early Will Help You Reinvent Yourself
5 Hacks That Will Make You Wake Up Early Like A Pro
9 Practical Solutions To Your Money Concerns
5 Winning Ways To Live Below Your Means
Manage Your Money Better With These 5 Tips
Gratitude Is Essential For Your Success Find Out Why
8 Ways Gratitude Improves You

Outside reference/s:

The Power of Emotions
Recognizing and Managing Emotions
Four Ways Gratitude Helps You with Difficult Feelings
5 Tips for Managing Your Emotions
10 Advantages that Result from Increasing Your Emotional Intelligence

4 Responses

  1. These are great tips and approaches to emotion management and regulation. Learning to push stop and take a breather to sit down with my emotion was a huge game-changer for me. Learning more about empathy and nonviolent communication also helped. Thank you for sharing.

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