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Hey fam 🫡

I had a friend ask me the other day…

Why do people feel it’s ok to send emotionally charged emails at work?

So, I asked Have you ever felt like your emotions are running the show, especially during high-pressure situations at work?

Yes! That was the answer.

Being able to recognize your emotional triggers and manage your reactions seamlessly is what leads to better decisions and stronger professional relationships.

One actionable tip is to build a personal emotional awareness ritual.

How did you ask? That’s the focus of today’s edition.

Let’s get it!

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DEEP DIVE
Consistently recognize and manage your emotional triggers.

I cannot over-emphasize the importance of managing emotions in any professional setting.

Emotional awareness is key to maintaining composure, making informed decisions, and fostering strong professional relationships. When you can manage your emotions, you respond to situations with clarity and confidence, leading to more effective leadership and collaboration.

Common strategies for managing emotions often fall short:

• Suppression: Ignoring or suppressing emotions can lead to increased stress and eventual emotional outbursts.

• Avoidance: Avoiding situations that trigger emotions doesn’t address the underlying issues, leading to recurring problems.

• Venting: While venting can provide temporary relief, it doesn’t offer constructive solutions and can damage professional relationships.

These methods fail because they don’t foster a deep understanding of your emotional responses or promote healthy management techniques.

Here’s a smarter approach:

Develop a personal emotional awareness ritual

Develop a personal emotional awareness ritual that helps you consistently recognize and manage your emotional triggers.

This practice involves self-reflection, mindfulness, and proactive strategies to maintain emotional balance.

1. Start with Self-Reflection:

Set aside time each day to reflect on your emotional experiences. Consider what triggered specific emotions and how you responded. Journaling can be an effective way to track these reflections and identify patterns over time.

2. Practice Mindfulness:

Mindfulness helps you stay present and aware of your emotions without judgment. Incorporate mindfulness practices such as deep breathing, meditation, or mindful walking into your daily routine to enhance your emotional awareness.

3. Identify Your Triggers:

Recognize the specific situations, people, or thoughts that trigger strong emotional reactions. Understanding your triggers is the first step toward managing your responses.

4. Develop Coping Strategies:

Create a toolkit of strategies to manage your emotional responses. This might include taking a walk, practicing deep breathing, or engaging in a quick mindfulness exercise when you feel triggered.

5. Set Emotional Boundaries:

Learn to set boundaries that protect your emotional well-being. This might involve limiting exposure to certain stressors or practicing assertive communication to express your needs.

6. Seek Feedback:

Regularly seek feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors about how you handle emotions in professional settings. Use their insights to refine your emotional awareness ritual.