Why are emotions important?
A paper delivered during a speaking engagement, at the Mayville Prep School graduation ceremony in July 2021
by Folake Oluwole (FO)
Emotions can play an important role in how we think and behave. The emotions we feel on a daily basis dictates or compel us to take certain actions and influence our decision-making process ie decisions we make about our lives, both big and small.
It is said that emotions influence us more than reason... Why? Emotions are found within a deeper part of our brain and they are at the basis of everything we are.
Reasons are said to be used to pacify and polish our emotions.
There are 7 main types of emotions namely: anger, disgust, fear, sadness, happiness, surprise, shame and contempt. Out of the 7, anger is the strongest.
Why is it important for parents to acknowledge their children's emotions and react appropriately?
Children gain clarity about their feelings and desires when we verbally reflect them BUT please do not state the feeling unless you are sure. It is better and safer to use words like concerned, upset or bothered rather than jumping into the feeling itself... Such as angry or scared which is fear...
Acknowledging informs, encourages and promotes emotional intelligence.
Emotions play a critical role in everyday life. The ability to express, regulate and understand one's own and other's emotions... This is known as emotional competence or intelligence. This is linked to good social skills and actually doing better in school.
Children and adults who are emotionally competent tend to have more successful social lives.
Why is it important for us as parents to recognize our emotions?
It helps us build better relationships. When we are aware of our emotions then we are able to talk about it more clearly, avoid and or resolve conflicts better and move past difficult feelings more easily. It is good to note that some people are naturally in touch with their emotions than others.
What is the difference between emotions and feelings? Though they have similar elements, there is a marked difference between feelings and emotions. According to psychology today, emotions are not conscious but instead manifest in the unconscious mind. A fundamental difference between feelings and emotions is that feelings are experienced consciously while emotions may manifest either consciously or subconsciously.