We all have different needs, as Maslow explains with his pyramid. Some are basic needs, such as food and protection; Others are related, such as affection and recognition, emotions help us to satisfy our needs, because they help us to survive, to distinguish between a dangerous situation or a situation that generates well-being, in addition, they encourage or motivate us to build relationships and communicate with others.
Thus, emotions are our inseparable travel companions, the truth is that sometimes we are tired of being with us day and night, so we must learn to manage them to achieve a better inner coexistence.
- Emotions are necessary to survive; one of its main functions is to prepare physiologically for action.
- Many animals have emotional behaviors that are characterized by their effectiveness.
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- Certain emotions allow us to act immediately.
- This is perhaps the first sense in which emotions help meet needs.
For example, when we are afraid because we see a snake: before we wonder if it is poisonous or not, our body already reacts, in this case our heart rate increases, so more blood enters the muscles and we can move them physically. escape possible danger. Therefore, if we have to move away quickly from a situation, we do not waste time thinking and increase our chances of survival.
Emotions communicate information to others about how we perceive and interpret stimuli, both internal and external, usually much of this communication is done through nonverbal communication, this type of communication is faster, more natural and more intuitive than verbal language. even if it is not intentional, the communication of emotions influences us.
Emotions serve as a guide because they give us valuable information about each situation, help us identify whether the experience suits us or not since we feel it in a pleasant or unpleasant way, so, depending on our feeling, we want to repeat an experience. or avoid it. In this way, emotions are like an internal compass that helps us to orient ourselves and focus on what is important; therefore, emotions help us meet our needs.
Emotions are neither positive nor negative; some are simply pleasant, like joy, and others unpleasant, like anger and helplessness, all emotions have a purpose, are valid and necessary, we could understand them as our travel companions, as friends who want to help us and tell us what our needs are.
If we were not angry, how would we protect ourselves, if we did not feel sad, would we be able to understand the losses?, if we were not afraid, how would we perceive that we are in danger, if we do not feel joy. , how would we know what generates our well-being in order to reproduce it?Let emotions fulfill their role and guide us!
Emotions can guide us, but we have to find the right way for this to happen. We cannot be carried away solely by impulses, without paying attention to our thoughts. Feeling an emotion is beneficial, but to some extent. We can’t let emotion overwhelm us and keep us from leaving, so we have to learn how to manage them. The following strategies help us control them:
Being aware of the emotion we feel helps us manage it, knowing how to differentiate, for example, whether we are sad or bored and being able to distinguish what the specific situation was or the thought that caused this emotion gives us more information to act accordingly. In addition, being aware of one’s emotions helps us recognize them in others and thus have more empathy.
As we have already said, there are emotions that we consider unpleasant, such as sadness, which we usually try to draw from our emotional repertoire, however, we must learn to tolerate emotions. Emotions come and go, like the waves of the sea. Everything has its own process, if we are sad now it does not mean that we will always be like this, nor that we are sad people, so we do not have to try to suppress an emotion. We must tolerate emotion, that is, feel it, listen to it, without blocking or increasing it.
We are all able to control ourselves, as Greenberg (2000) explains, knowledge of emotions offers enlightenment and personal control, if we understand that a direct battle against our emotions is useless, we can have more control over them. the feeling disappears over time, but trying to eliminate the negative thoughts that make emotion more intense, be distracted so that its intensity decreases, control impulsivity, seek the achievement of goals through adjustment, impulsivity of our behavior, etc. In this way, we will take care of ourselves and facilitate the increase of our well-being.
In addition to using our own resources, we can also, or rather, express emotion and communicate it to those around us. Emotions must be shared. We must trust others and seek the care of those who can help us with relief, communicate our feelings and needs.
In short, emotions help us meet needs and guide us in how we should act, they are very valuable because thanks to them we can survive and communicate, first we feel the emotions and then we decide what we do with them, being therefore responsible for our actions. Therefore, let us be consistent with our feelings and thoughts, let us do so assertively, that is, respecting our needs and those of others.