Boost Your Energy

Boost your energy by leaving ‘sticky emotions’ at the door. Experiencing emotion takes energy. Often a lot of it. We have a finite amount of energy to use (as we choose) throughout the day. Being mindful of how much emotion to allow in and out of our lives could enhance our mood and productivity. The first step is to recognize which emotions are sticking. Some common sticky emotions are disappointment, anger, embarrassment, and fear. These emotions tend to drag down our overall mood and require a substantial amount of cognitive energy as we ruminate for hours or even days. This sets the stage for anxiety. Too much rumination could lead us to develop a chemical imbalance of dopamine which can lead to clinical depression.

Why emotions stick

Emotions are part of the human experience. Emotions are cognitive reactions formed based on our interactions or experiences from sensory input in the world. That sensory input is taken in through electrical circuitry in the amygdala and channeled through our filter or lens of the world. Our lens, or how we view the world is largely based on closely held beliefs and memories of previous experiences. Not to mention the impact of our lizard brain to basic needs such as food, sex, water, and shelter. Our moment to moment experiences have the potential to bring about strong emotional responses that lead to physical action.

How to let emotions flow through

When we experience strong emotions, its important to label them. Labeling emotions helps us process them quickly. The quicker we can identify what we are feeling, the easier it may be to pivot away from that emotion. For example, if you are experiencing embarrassment. As soon as possible, label it. Labeling for others can also be helpful to deescalate a volatile situation with language such as “I can see that you are very frustrated at what just happened”.

Controlling emotions instead of letting them control you

We would be remiss if we did not state that emotions are an important part of life. Having the pendulum swing in either direction, ignoring emotion versus feeling emotions fully, can decrease your well-being as well as your effectiveness. Next time you are confronted with a ‘sticky’ situation, we push you to consider dialing in your emotional reaction instead of it having it control you.