Label Your Emotions

“I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.”

― Oscar Wilde,

In my line of work, I realize that people often have a difficult time labeling their own emotions.

They may describe or label a thought, but can't seem to find the feeling associated with what's going on with them internally.

For example, have you or maybe someone you know ever said something like this, "I felt like they didn't even care." In this sentence even though the sentence contains "I felt" the rest of the sentence is a thought and not a feeling.

If what I mentioned above seems to describe you, and you find it difficult to verbalize your emotions, try this quick exercise:

I feel ______ (enter notion in blank). I feel this way because _____. This is what I did about it: Something else I could have done is:

Quick tip: When expanding your vocabulary surrounding the different state of emotions, you can start with the basics, mad, sad, or glad and slowly incorporate more into your vocabulary.

Exercise Credit: Therapist Aid LLC