A Guide to Emotional Self-Awareness — Gareth Michael
The spiritual journey invites each of us to journey inward, but how well do you know and understand yourself? When it comes to holding space for our emotions and becoming more self-aware, many people fail to pay attention to the subtle messages that our emotions try to convey.
External factors in life can affect us, and lots of people find themselves developing coping skills to feel more in control instead of learning emotional regulation. Could emotional self awareness be the key to gaining more control over our emotional lives and experiences?
In this blog, find out how to become more spiritually aware of emotional intelligence, why it’s an important part of who we are, and how you can learn to increase your level of emotional self-awareness.
What is emotional self-awareness?
Emotional self-awareness is all about understanding your emotions and knowing yourself more deeply. This process involves tuning in and paying attention to how your emotions impact your life so that you can understand why you feel how you do.
An emotionally self-aware person will feel a strong connection to their emotions and is more likely to understand the root cause of the issues they face. Instead of reacting immediately, someone who is emotionally aware will take a moment to step back and see both sides of an argument. Their response is likely to be considered, perhaps finding empathy or compassion for the other person and seeking a higher perspective.
What is emotional intelligence?
When it comes to emotional intelligence, self-awareness is the first step towards mastering emotional connection. First pioneered by Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence is the ability to be able to identify, control, and express not only your emotions but the emotions of others too. He has written several spiritual texts on this topic, which are good resources for understanding emotional intelligence and exploring spirituality.
Someone who is emotionally intelligent will be able to fully accept themselves and other people instead of acting from a place of judgement. They will be able to communicate well, take full responsibility for their own emotions, and display a strong sense of empathy and compassion. Emotional intelligence can be seen in the workplace via positive leadership, compassionate listening, and flexibility around peoples’ emotional needs.
Why is emotional self-awareness important?
Without self-awareness, we are unable to take responsibility for the things that we’re feeling. This not only affects our lives, but others too. The better our emotional self regulation, the easier it will be to successfully navigate challenges and emotional situations that we will face throughout our lives. The better we know ourselves, the easier it is to navigate our spiritual growth, and the stronger our mental health will be.
The more conscious we can be in our own lives and of the world around us, the better our overall experience will be. Those who lack emotional self-awareness will find themselves in situations fuelled by strong emotions, with no awareness of the effect that these uncontrolled emotions have.
Benefits of having emotional self-awareness
Developing emotional self-awareness allows us to experience a deeper connection with ourselves. When we understand our strengths and weaknesses, we can live our lives feeling more empowered. Here are some other benefits that you will experience when you are emotionally self-aware:
Better reactions to things outside your control
Instead of allowing emotions to rule, emotionally self-aware people will have learned regulation skills that allow them to process any intense emotions they may be feeling and have a more stable emotional state.
A more positive outlook
Emotional awareness contributes to having a more positive mindset and outlook on life. Daniel Goleman says that having a positive outlook is one of the 12 competencies of emotional intelligence and is a vital quality for leadership.
Ability to hold personal boundaries
A person who is emotionally aware is more able to understand their own needs and be able to set and hold personal boundaries when it comes to their energy. It is important to be able to give ourselves space for our emotions and to be able to separate them from other situations that we cannot control outside of ourselves.
A deeper understanding of not only your own emotions but those of other people
Increasing your emotional self awareness will allow you to navigate your own emotions and move through difficulties more easily. A higher emotional self perception allows you to begin to understand what others are going through and develop more compassion and empathy.
Better relationships with co-workers, friends and family
When we can better control our emotions and take responsibility for how we are feeling, we are more likely to act from a higher perspective without the need for passive aggression or reactivity. This will allow us to build stronger relationships in all areas of our lives.
How to improve your emotional self-awareness
There are lots of ways that you can learn to hold space for your emotions and develop emotional self awareness. When you understand your emotions, you’re able to develop the ability to recognize the way emotions affect everyday life. Here are some regulation strategies that you can use to help improve your emotional intelligence:
Observe your feelings without judgement
Spend time being present to your emotions, noticing any feelings, without judging yourself. Practicing mindfulness, or doing a body scan is a great way to permit yourself to feel without judgement.
Check-in with yourself
Get in the habit of regularly checking in with yourself to notice your triggers, and begin to name the emotions that you feel. It can be helpful to keep a diary to see if you can spot any patterns and to strengthen that awareness with yourself.
Take a pause
Learn to pause before you react. This small amount of time gives you just enough space to take a deep breath, slow down your heart rate, and consider the approach you take.
Practice empathy and compassion
When you practise feeling compassion and understanding towards yourself and others, it will open up your ability to be more aware of your emotions and help with emotional regulation.
Practice gratitude
Feeling thankful generally throughout your day will increase positivity in your life. This simple spiritual practice creates a positive environment where it’s ok to feel your emotions. This will help you to have a more positive mindset.
Opening up to emotional self-awareness
Mastering self-awareness can be challenging, especially in times of self-reflection when it can be hard to be objective with our own emotions. Working with a spiritual coach can help open you up to perspectives that you may not have considered, and offer those lightbulb moments you may be looking for.
Get in touch today to find out how Gareth’s guidance will help you to feel connected on a much deeper level.
