Identifying emotions.

Learning to identify our emotions is a powerful skill, but one that is often not taught to us as children. Being able to recognize our emotional states helps us understand why we are making or choosing not to make decisions in our lives. Emotions, especially negative emotions like anger and fear, often act as barricades to action. Emotions are also very shifting. Someone may feel ecstatic about a new event in their life and an hour later feel only anguish. Sometimes that shift occurs in seconds or even simultaneously. If we help young people identify these emotions, we can help them navigate important events in their lives and illuminate a clearer path forward.

Next time you meet up with a young person in your life, ask them to name the emotion they are bringing with them. Also name yours. By doing this, they practice identifying their own emotions as well as being sensitive to others’. In some cases, they may even realize that talking about their emotions allows them to let them go. For this and other similar tips, check out this Edutopia article about the social and emotional learning happening at one California charter school.