Emotional and physical health are important, and caring for emotional well-being is vital to living each day with positivity and intention. Learn more about emotions and health on our blog, with a new article posted each week.
No doubt you’ve experienced a whole spectrum of emotions throughout your life, from joy at the birth of a child, or excitement at the prospect of a new job, or even fear at the sight of a spider! But have you ever paused to wonder what emotions actually are, and why we have them?
Have you ever caught yourself checking your phone for messages when you’re out for dinner, or having a quick glance at social media when you’re meant to be working? With the prevalence of instant communication, we’ve become accustomed to feeling connected to other people pretty much 24/7, seeking it out whenever possible.
Have you ever regretted something you said, or did in the heat of the moment? Do you ever find yourself struggling to get on the same page with people? If so, you’re not alone. Most of us have had moments where our emotions got the better of us, or times when our connections with family, friends, or colleagues felt a little superficial.
Emotions affect how we see the world, and how we think, and behave — every decision we make is influenced by whether we are happy, sad, excited or angry.
The way we behave when we feel different emotions is at the heart of our interactions with other people. When we show our friends that we are excited, or nervous about something, and they behave similarly, we feel a strong sense of connection.
Even when you think your decisions are based on logic and common sense, they are often steered by emotion. By understanding how emotions play into our decision-making process, we can learn to find the perfect balance between reason and intuition, and to make choices that serve us in living our best life.
