07/02/2023
Hi, how are you?
Most of us would probably answer “I’m fine” or your go to might be “Busy”but those choice of words may not always reflect what you really feel inside.
It can sometimes feel impossible to find the words to describe exactly what you’re feeling, but in finding the right vocabulary can help you understand how you feel.
The Feelings Wheel which was created by Dr. Gloria Willcox and was designed to help you narrow down exactly what you’re feeling so that you can better recognise your emotion.
When you feel anxious, anger or fear - your amygdala - the part of your brain that processes threats and fear gets triggered; this is our fight-or-flight response. At the same time, the part of the brain responsible for problem-solving and decision-making - the prefrontal cortex, become impaired.
🧠This "Amygdala Highjack” overides our thinking brain which gives us the ability to think and behave rationally, which results in unhelpful behaviours.
Using the wheel, lessens your fight-or-flight response, by activating your prefrontal cortex through the labelling of your emotions. Helping you to regulate how you feel and manage your thoughts and actions.
It’s a simple but powerful tool that can not only help to identify emotions, but through regular practice it can cultivate self-awareness and boost your emotional intelligence.
Here’s how to use it:
👉Start by picking a core emotions at the centre of the wheel and work your way to the outer edges to find a more specific feeling.
👈Do the reverse. If you gravitate towards an emotion on the edge, work your way inwards to uncover the core emotion behind your feelings.
✨ To develop a deeper understanding of the emotion, could you also explore the feelings surrounding whatever emotion you're currently feeling.
So how are you feeling today?
