What is the point of your emotions?

Emotions help us to communicate to others, and they also motivate us.  Listen to your emotions - they may tell you something important.  For example -

• Sadness tells you that you need to mourn certain losses, helping us to recognize what is important
• Fear helps us to respond to potential threats
• Love helps us forge union and a sense of belonging
• Guilt helps us to evaluate whether we have violated any of our values
• Anger allows us to address something that might be obstructing an important goal

Therapy can help you to identify your emotions, and then figure out what those emotions are trying to communicate.  We can then help you to work out what to do about those emotions.

• First, we need to work out if your emotions fit the facts.  This is where we would identify any distorted assumptions or blind spots.
• If your emotions fit the facts, we can work out how you act on them.  This usually involves problem-solving, and this is easier to do with the help of a trained professional.
• if your emotions do not the facts, or it would be unwise to act on them, we can identify ways to regulate those emotions.  This usually involves taking opposite action (for example, if you are sad you could engage in activities that usually make you feel positive).

Chris Warren-Dickins, Psychotherapist
Ridgewood, New Jersey
www.exploretransform.com