Do you sometimes explode with anger?

Do you have moments when you are upset because someone else is upset?

It happens to all of us to pick up on another person’s emotion, but we are usually not aware of it. We find it hard to recognize even our own emotions.

If we want to be in control, we need to be aware of our internal processes.

A task for recognizing emotions, i.e. understanding yourself.

Objective: To understand yourself and take control of your emotions.

Recall a situation in which you did not control your emotions. Perhaps as you read this post you are in such a situation, or perhaps it has happened in the past.

Complete the following sentences:

In this situation, I feel/feel…, because I need/need…

In this situation the other person feels/feels…, because they need/needed…

Think further about whether the emotion you are experiencing/experienced belongs to you.

Or have they been taken over by the other person?

This recognition and a moment of pause is a very important step in understanding what you are experiencing. With every argument, stressful situation, or misunderstanding with another person, it is worth performing the above task.

Understand yourself and your emotions!