Anxious. Angry. Upset. Frustrated. Joyful. Are these states of being? Sentiments? Thoughts?
Fun fact – I deleted my entire article after watching Pixar’s Inside Out 2 movie with my family last night. For those not up-to-date on current youth films, I assert this one transcends generational boundaries.
Even if you don’t have children—please, go! My older teen and young adult children recalled the first movie and appreciated how the sequel focused on emotions tied to adolescence.
They lived it right alongside the movie’s timeline. I certainly lived through it… ages ago! Both Inside Out 2 and the original movie explore emotions and feelings, which everyone experiences regardless of age—as the saying goes, there’s something for everyone!
Acknowledging my own vulnerability, I haven’t always been adept at identifying my feelings and their messages. I’ve often reacted impulsively, bottling them up, letting them dictate my actions. This has led me to react rather than respond.
Since becoming a coach, I’ve learned much about recognizing emotions, feelings, and the thoughts tied to them. I now firmly believe that feelings offer valuable data accessible to each of us at any moment—data relevant to work, home life, and relationships.
Feelings. Are. Data.
This fundamental understanding is available to each of us. Once we begin to recognize our own emotions, it opens the door to understanding others, enhancing communication, and fostering better teamwork (or family dynamics).
Two books I highly recommend on emotions and feelings are Brené Brown’s “Atlas of the Heart” and Marc Brackett’s “Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive.”
I’ve mentioned “Atlas of the Heart” before—it has become a tried and true resource for me, exploring eighty-seven emotions that define the human experience and mapping them out for practical use in life.
Dr. Brackett argues that many children and adults suffer because they feel ashamed of their emotions and lack emotional skills (sound familiar?). His research emphasizes emotional intelligence’s role in learning, decision-making, creativity, relationships, health, and performance. I was fortunate to attend a workshop led by Dr. Brackett a few years ago—it was eye-opening. His work with K12 children nationwide has empowered thousands to articulate emotions and communicate effectively. Everyone should read his book.
My mind was blown recently when I discovered a podcast featuring both Brené and Marc discussing feelings – two great minds coming together! One significant issue they address is that many people are reluctant to know how others feel, as it obliges us to respond to those emotions. What if someone admits to feeling anxious, stressed, or depressed? It’s a lot to handle. How do we acknowledge such profound emotions in others? How do we address our own inner struggles?
There is so much more to this issue and I could go on and on. The language of emotions is real, learnable, and attainable. It’s simply data. For now, let’s continue working together to embrace it.
Mindful Moments
As a mindfulness facilitator and executive coach, one of the most impactful programs I’ve developed is called The Space Between. This program is designed specifically for office environments and can be delivered either virtually or in person. Its aim is to foster a shared communication framework among colleagues, enabling them to support each other, recognize emotions, and navigate challenging conversations with empathy and grace. It’s real meditation, it’s resilience, it’s learning by doing.
Here is a quick rundown of what the program can look like:
Previous clients have given rave reviews for this program with more than 75% of the participants incorporating what they learned into their daily lives, and 100% reporting that The Space Between Mindfulness Program met or exceeded their expectations.
If you would like to know more about The Space Between, please let me know and let’s see how we can structure a program to grow mindfulness in your business environment.
Coaching Openings
Erin Taylor Coaching is happy to announce availability for individual coaching programs.
but hurry, as they will fill up quickly. Please see the website for more information or contact Erin at erin@erintaylorcoaching.com
“Erin’s ability to bring focus, connectedness and compassion to an organization is unparalleled. Through weekly sessions, Erin provides a place for team members to show up – in whatever mental, emotional or physical place they may find themselves – and learn best practices for everything from effective management and conflict resolution to reducing stress, avoiding burnout and finding joy in your work. Through our office’s work with Erin, we have been able to improve communication, productivity and creativity in our office while fostering an environment where team members feel better able to share in their challenges and rejoice in their successes.” ~ US Senate Office
