When a song plays, you can feel the beat and almost predict the next lyrics, but they elude you. Yet, you’re still enjoying the moment—sun on your face, clear roads, great music. Naming our emotions can be similar. You might feel something deep inside, a mix of confusion and recognition, like trying to identify a familiar tune. It could be fear, excitement, or emptiness. Just as you get better at naming songs by listening closely, you can become more skilled at identifying your emotions. Pay attention to your body’s signals: what does an emotion feel like when it starts, and what are its indicators? With practice, you can learn to name your feelings and understand them better. Start by taking a breath and noticing what’s happening in your body right now. If you can’t pinpoint the emotion, do some research and expand your emotional vocabulary. This process is crucial in therapy, helping you move beyond simple labels like good/bad or happy/sad and find a deeper understanding of your inner world. Emotions are information, like a check engine light in your car, signalling that something is happening inside. Gathering and understanding this information is a great first step.
