How well do we understand emotions?

We all face emotional storms at different points in life. Masking emotions can seem like strength, but the real power is in allowing vulnerability. It takes courage to share your feelings as they come, with those who have proven worthy of your trust, emptying our mind, body, and spirit, while still being authentic.

To deepen self-awareness and cultivate mindfulness, we can turn to the idea of an Emotional Map, a guiding framework made up of four essential components:

Biology – How and why emotions show up in our bodies?

Biography – How the people around us shape our beliefs and connections between our feelings, thoughts and behaviors?

Behaviors – Which ones we tend to gravitate towards?

Backstory – The context of our thoughts and feelings

To navigate the complexities of our relationships with ourselves and others, and to take ownership of our actions, we must reflect on and answer these key questions:

Where am I?

How did I get here from there?

How do I get there from here?