Everyone has times in their life that seem to be a bit tougher than others; sometimes you can go through an extremely rough patch where it can be hard to see through to the other side. During these times, it’s only natural to go through a variety of emotions, in fact this is healthy. SO how can we manage our emotions better and make these tough times a little bit easier? Well there are a variety of tips and techniques you can try to use.
Of course, if you use these techniques and still find you are having a problem managing your emotions, it’s wise to see a professional and get a little extra help.
Stop and Think Before Reacting
Most of the time when you have a negative reaction where emotions are concerned it’s because you are reacting to a situation. One way to get a handle of these intense emotions is to stop and think before you react. Think about the situation and ask yourself if it’s worth getting upset over.
It can even be helpful to remove yourself from the situation and that moment so you have a chance to calm yourself down. Practice deep breathing exercises, meditate, count to 10, anything that helps you to calm down. After you take this time to think about the situation there’s a good chance your emotional response will be much less intense.
Identify Negative Thoughts Early and Banish Them
Negative thoughts are something that many people suffer from and they can be devastating if they take over. It’s not only important to stop the negative thoughts from taking over, but it’s important to recognize them the minute they creep in. The faster you can get at identifying them, the more effective you can be at forcing them out of your mind.
You can use replacement techniques to deal with negative emotions. What this means is that when a negative thought enters your mind, replace it with a positive thought instead. Over time this will become second nature, becoming easier and easier.
Use Others as Examples
Looking to friends and family who seem to deal with their emotions well can be a wonderful example and learning experience for you. Look at how they deal with various situations and apply the same reactions in your life.
Embrace Physical Activity
One of the greatest ways you can learn to deal with your emotions better is by giving yourself a physical outlet to burn off that negativity, stress, anxiety, and steam. This means get up and get moving! It could be that you join the gym, join a sports team, take up jogging or cycling, or anything else that gets you up and moving. Exercising releases hormones in our body that are responsible for making us happy, so it’s like getting a boost of happiness.
There are Plenty of Tools
There is no need to let your negative emotions control you and your behavior. Thanks to the many tools and techniques available, including professional help if needed, it shouldn’t be long before you get a handle on those emotions.
