Emotional Awareness means being able to identify and understand your own emotions as well as the emotions of others. It is the ability to label emotions in yourself and others, to access and express emotions in a healthy way, and to understand the link between emotions and behaviors.
Why is emotional awareness important?
Emotional intelligence has been shown to be one of the strongest predictors of success in life. Individuals who are emotionally intelligent are typically more successful in their careers, have healthier relationships, and cope better with stress.
There are many benefits to developing emotional awareness, including:
- improved communication and relationships
- greater career success
- better physical health, and
- increased overall well-being
How Emotional Awareness is linked to Non-Verbal Communication?
Nonverbal communication is the process of sending and receiving messages without using words. It includes facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and more. NVC is an important part of emotional awareness because it can reveal how we’re feeling even when we’re not saying anything. For example, if someone has a worried look on their face, they may be feeling anxious even if they’re not verbalizing it.
Mastering Non-Verbal Communication
There are many different ways to improve your nonverbal communication skills. Below are some tips:
1) Pay attention to your body language.
Are you making eye contact? Do you have an open or closed posture? Are you facing the person you’re talking to? Your body language plays a big role in how you’re perceived by others.
2) Be aware of your tone of voice
Is your voice pitched too high? Too low? Are you speaking too fast or too slow? Your tone of voice can influence how others perceive you and how they respond to what you’re saying.
3) Listen to others
Pay attention to the nonverbal cues people are giving off. This will help you better understand their feelings and respond accordingly.
4) Practice in front of a mirror
Try different ways of expressing yourself nonverbally and see how it feels. This will help you become more aware of the nonverbal cues you’re sending out.
5) Seek feedback from others
Ask trusted friends or family members for honest feedback on your nonverbal communication. This can be a helpful way to see how others perceive you and identify areas for improvement.
Emotional awareness is essential for mastering non-verbal communication. If you can read and understand the emotions other people are feeling, it will be much easier to interpret their body language.
Being able to Understand
One of the most important aspects of emotional awareness is being able to understand and interpret other people’s body language. Our bodies send out a lot of non-verbal cues that can reveal how we’re feeling. For example, someone who is anxious may have their arms crossed or their hands clenched into fists. Or, someone who is angry may have their eyebrows drawn together and their jaw clenched.
If you can learn to read these non-verbal cues, you’ll be much better equipped to communicate effectively with others.
Being able to regulate your own emotions
Another important aspect of emotional awareness is being able to regulate your own emotions. If you can manage your own emotions, you’ll be less likely to let them get in the way of your communication with others. One way to do this is to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the act of being present in the moment and observing your thoughts and emotions without judgment.
By practising mindfulness, you can learn to become more aware of your own emotions and how they affect your body language. This will help you to better control your non-verbal communication and prevent your emotions from getting in the way of your interactions with others.
Learning to develop emotional awareness and control your non-verbal communication can be a valuable skill in both your personal and professional life. By becoming more aware of the signals you’re sending, you can learn to communicate more effectively with others and build stronger relationships.
Hear what isn’t said- Master Your Mind
It is clear that emotional awareness and non-verbal communication are important skills to have in order to be successful both professionally and personally. The good news is that these skills can be learned with practice. At Master Your Mind – Center for Healing and Wellness, we offer sessions and therapies that teach individuals how developing emotional awareness and mastering non-verbal communication can be so helpful. If you would like more information, please contact us!