This is Topic #2 in the Emotional Intelligence series.
Understanding your emotions is only half the battle. Learning how to express them in a productive way is a larger task.
Talking Points:
- Emotional health is not just about understanding your emotions but also knowing how to express those emotions in a productive way.
- A lack of emotional control means you lash out and say things you regret, you blame others for your failings, and your volatile mood pushes people away.
- A healthy expression of emotions means you can identify the “what” and “why” to what your feeling, you pause and reflect on what you might need to do, you seek advice from others and then formulate a productive plan of action.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- On a scale from 1-10, how emotionally controlled are you? What number would people close to you give you?
- What are the things that tend to get you the most upset and why?
- Review the three things that describe a loss of emotional control. Which do you struggle with most?
- Why is understanding your emotions only half the battle? What are the challenges to knowing the right way to express them?
- What are some of the consequences you’ve faced when you have lost control of your emotions?
- Review the 4 steps to healthy expression of emotions. Which one do you need to key in on most? How can these steps help you to avoid making similar mistakes in the future?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
