Unit 2: emotional Fitness

EMOTIONAL FITNESS

Is your best armor against all of life’s challenges. Nothing can throw you off course because you know your purpose – and it gives you inner strength. Emotional fitness is the simple idea that our minds need regular exercise and training just as much as our bodies do in order to stay healthy and fit. It is the ability to recognize emotions, state them and be able to reflect on one's emotional state. If you can name it, you can tame it.

IDENTIFY THE FEELING

Ask yourself what you’re really feeling. It sounds simple, and it is. Yet many of us don’t take the time to do this in the heat of the moment. Usually, the first thing we feel is a symptom of a deeper, more difficult feeling we’re avoiding. For instance, we commonly feel anger at the surface when, deep down, we’re actually feeling rejected or unheard. Or, the deeper meaning of feeling sad may be loneliness and rejection. We may feel unmotivated because we have a fear of failure. Finding clarity on the true core emotion behind what you are feeling is the first step to overcoming it.

The teenage years are a time of transition from childhood into adulthood. Teens often have a strong desire to be independent. So they may struggle with still being dependent on their parents. They may also feel overwhelmed by the emotional and physical changes they are experiencing.

Teens can face a number of pressures such as, fitting in at school and in friend groups; doing well in school and making good grades; excelling in extracurricular activities; family pressure; financial pressure as well as preparing for their next steps in life after highschool.

Emotions can be so incredibly uncomfortable that it’s hard to remember they’re actually there to help. They’re guideposts for life’s trajectory, letting us know what is and isn’t working. And suppressing them is never helpful – emotions have a way of coming out, whether you want them to or not. Instead of pushing down feelings like sadness or anger, work on developing an appreciation for them. Even if they’re making you uncomfortable in the moment, know that your emotions are there to tell you something. Emotional fitness means you’re willing to do the work to find out what that is.