Celebrating a First Anniversary

Celebrating a First Anniversary

• Ben and Gwen are a newly married couple celebrating their first anniversary.
• Gwen wants a special celebration.
• Ben prefers a practical celebration.
• One option is to have a picnic at a nature park with a low entrance fee.
• Another option is eating at a fast food restaurant where they dated in college.
• A third option is window shopping at the mall and looking for sale items.
• A fourth option is traveling to a province and enjoying nature activities.

Introduction

• This module focuses on understanding different emotions and how they are expressed.
• It explores how to manage and communicate emotions healthily.
• It emphasizes the importance of "EQ" (emotional intelligence) in personal development.

Emotions

• Paul Ekman, a psychologist, identified 6 basic emotions universally recognized: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust, and surprise.

Happiness

• Characterized by feelings of joy, contentment, and satisfaction.
• Often accompanied by physical sensations like warmth, lightness, and a desire to smile or laugh.

Sadness

• Marked by feelings of sorrow, grief, or unhappiness.
• Can manifest in physical symptoms: tears, lethargy, loss of appetite, and negative thinking.

Fear

• A strong emotional response to perceived threat or danger.
• A natural survival mechanism triggering the fight-or-flight response.
• Common physical symptoms: increased heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, and trembling.

Anger

• Associated with feelings of hostility, frustration, and annoyance.
• Characterized by physiological changes like increased heart rate and elevated blood pressure.

Disgust

• Triggered by unpleasant smells, tastes, sights, or textures.
• An innate emotion promoting avoidance of harmful substances and maintaining social norms.

Surprise

• A sudden reaction to unexpected events.
• Characterized by brief physiological arousal: increased heart rate, widened eyes, and open mouth.

Emotional Intelligence

• The ability to understand, utilize, and manage emotions constructively to address difficult situations.
• Daniel Goleman identified 5 key elements:
  • Self-awareness: Recognizing and understanding one's own emotions and their impact.
  • Self-regulation: Managing emotional states effectively during challenges.
  • Motivation: Acting based on personal beliefs and pursuing goals.
  • Empathy: Understanding and acknowledging the emotions of others.
  • Social Skills: Communicating, inspiring, and managing the emotions of others.

Importance of Emotional Intelligence

• Crucial during adolescence for navigating peer pressure, academic stress, and family conflicts.
• Contributes to better relationships and positive behaviors: empathy, self-control, and assertiveness.
• Develops a foundation for healthy emotional regulation and social interactions throughout adulthood.

Managing Emotions

• Acknowledge and label emotions: Recognize and name the feeling to gain awareness and perspective.
• Identify triggers: Reflect on past experiences to understand what causes specific emotional reactions.
• Change what you can: Minimize stress triggers through:
  • Reducing job stress (delegating, setting boundaries, seeking support)
  • Practicing assertive communication to manage conflicts
  • Changing negative thought patterns (cognitive restructuring)
• Find outlets: Engage in healthy activities to release negative emotions:
  • Regular exercise
  • Meditation
  • Fun and laughter
• Listen: Pay attention to others' emotions and attempt to understand their concerns.
• Accept emotions: Acknowledge and allow negative emotions to exist without avoiding or suppressing them.