7 Things To Know About Your Emotions

- [Amanda] Hey, Psych2Goers.

Welcome back to our channel.

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make psychology and mental health

more accessible to every.

So, thank you.

Now, let's continue.

As human beings,

we are all hardwired to feel things

and react on an emotional level

to the things going on around us.

From the moment we're born,

we cry when we're sad
or hungry or in need.

We feel angry towards
the people who hurt us.

We're afraid of the things
that might be dangerous.

And we feel happy when we're given

love, kindness and affection.

These emotions come so naturally to us

and it's natural for us to express them.

But somewhere along the way,

it all gets complicated.

When you start getting confused

about what we were feeling

and why we were feeling it.

There were some emotions
that we didn't quite

know how to deal with,

so we ended up repressing, denying

or hiding our true feelings.

Understanding our emotions

not only helps us better
understand ourselves,

but also helps us build a deeper

and more meaningful life.

So, with that said,

here are seven of the
most important things

you need to know about your emotions.

Number one, you are not your emotions.

Emotions are important,

but they don't define who we are.

They're electrochemical signals

flowing from your brain to your body

as a reaction to your
day-to-day experiences.

Your emotions are simply there

to regulate your thoughts and behaviors

based on these experiences,

and provide you data about
the world around you.

They don't inform your character

or impact who you are,

unless you want them to.

And to think otherwise robs you

of your identity as a person

outside of your emotions.

You can allow yourself the freedom

to get angry without thinking

it makes you an angry person

or to feel happy without
pressuring yourself

to act like a happy person all the time.

Two, emotions come and go.

One of main reasons why we say

there's so much more to a person

than just their emotions

is because our emotions
frequently come and go.

And something is fundamental
to us as our identity,

shouldn't be defined
by something as fickle

and ever changing as how we feel.

Even the most intense emotions

and physical reactions

like crying, shaking, and screaming

rise, peak and fall within
a matter of minutes.

Number three, emotions don't
always need a specific reason.

Have you ever felt a certain way,

but didn't know why

or had to grapple with an emotion

that hits you out of nowhere?

While it can be confusing

and difficult to make
sense of our emotions

when we don't know what
the reason behind them is,

sometimes you just need

to let yourself feel

whatever it is that you're feeling

and try not to get so caught up

in figuring out why you're feeling it.

There could be a dozen different reasons

why you're feeling something,

but it's okay to feel it.

Whether you're feeling sad,
upset, happy, or scared.

Be honest about how you feel

and accept it without judgment.

All of your feelings are valid.

Number four, emotions don't
always need a reaction.

Whether it's anger, jealousy,

sadness or discontentment,

there's nothing wrong with
feeling a certain way.

You don't have to feel guilty

or ashamed about your emotions

as long as you also understand

that not every emotion

deserves to be acted upon.

When you wind up losing control

and let your emotions
get the better of you,

you can say hurtful things

or do something you'll
later come to regret.

Number five, there are
no negative emotions.

While most of us believe

that feelings can be either good or bad,

psychologists actually argue

that all feelings are neutral.

There's no such thing as

a positive or negative emotion

because emotions aren't
inherently anything.

They're only what we make of them.

And though it can sometimes

feel painful or overwhelming

to feel things so strongly and deeply,

allowing yourself to
experience your true emotions

can teach you a great deal

about yourself and who you really are.

This is because, six, all
emotions serve a purpose.

You experience a wide spectrum

of different multifaceted emotions.

Your feelings are a natural part of life

and they serve to let you know

how you're affected by what goes on

both within your life and within yourself.

Every emotion serves a purpose

to point you in the right direction,

and to help make sense of
what you're going through.

For example, envy and discontentment

can signal that there's a need

you're not satisfying for yourself

and could be missing from your life.

Anger lets you know

that your boundaries have been crossed.

Anxiety and fear keep you
safe from potential danger.

Happiness teaches you to seek out

the people and places
that make you feel loved.

Feelings of sadness are a way for you

to process the loss of something

that was once important to you.

Seven, emotions are contagious.

Last, but not least,

something you need to
know about your emotions

is that they can be very contagious.

Several scientific studies have found

that when you're in a group of people,

you subconsciously mimic

the emotions of those around you

as an expression of your
innate desire to belong.

With that in mind,

it's no wonder why having
toxic people in your life

can bring you down and
emotionally drain you.

This is why it's important

to surround yourself with
people who lift you up,

that you enjoy spending time with,

and whom you truly feel connected to.

Did you learn something new

about yourself and your emotions?

Please like and share this
video if it helped you,

and you think it could
help someone else too.

Studies and references used

are listed in the description below.

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and we'll see you next time.