Have you ever had a day where you had zero motivation without knowing exactly why?
The first step in overcoming these feelings is to embrace the way you feel. Rather than neglecting your emotions and moving on with your day, ask yourself, “Why am I experiencing this?”
Before I start studying, I like to plan out my to-dos and the goals for the day. I’m sure many of you do the same! This is important because it helps us organize our day. Journaling your emotions can help you arrange your thoughts into a more comprehensible form ✨
Our brains are always busy carrying and processing new ideas and often, our most important thoughts can get lost. Thoughts are tiny puzzle pieces in a small dark box 🧩 If we can’t physically see them, it would be difficult for us to understand. So let your emotions come together. Just like drawing a mindmap of your ideas drawn from your head!
Writing down your feelings can come in many forms, but I would like to introduce you to mood journaling 📝 Let me pose the following question: what is mood journaling and how do I start?
Mood journaling tracks your daily mood for you to recognize patterns in the change of your mood. But emotions can be confusing, so we organize them into simpler terms.
Before you start, don’t forget to grab a warm cup of coffee or tea with some snacks! ☕️
💫 Start by identifying your 8 basic emotions
1. Anger: fury, irritability, resentment and violence.
2. Sadness: sorrow, melancholy, and loneliness
3. Fear: anxiety, apprehension, nervousness, dread
4. Joy: happiness, relief, pride, thrill, and ecstasy.
5. Interest: friendliness, kindness, and affection
6. Surprise: shock, amazement, and wonder.
7. Disgust: disdain, scorn, aversion, and revulsion.
8. Shame: guilt, embarrassment, and regret
From here, write down both positive and negative thoughts! Our minds have natural tendencies to focus on the negatives, but it is essential not to let your emotions control you. It is completely okay to have these negative feelings, but don’t let yourself become negative! 🌿
Once you have a good idea of which emotions you are experiencing at the moment, let’s break down each emotion further to gain a better understanding of yourself.
What is the cause of these emotions?
Is it okay for me to feel this way?
How might these emotions affect my behaviours?
How can I resolve the problem or prevent inappropriate behaviours?
If you feel distressed, try taking a short walk or listening to music 🎶 There may not be an immediate solution, but don’t be discouraged! Remember: it’s a process. Continue journaling to understand what works best for you.
Why should you do this?
Mood journaling allows you to see yourself from a different perspective.
It is a process of organizing your thoughts, understanding why you feel a certain way and gaining control of your emotions! This will help you think more rationally and to make logical choices 💭
After you have written them, you can also reflect back on your decisions and see how feelings may have influenced your choices. The important part is to not let your emotions set you back, but to learn from past experiences 🌸
Emotions do not define you. Remember, you are the only one who can make decisions for you!
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