Emotional Energy - Blog 1
Emotional Energy is the term I like to use for this. It could also be thought of as...- Emotional Health
- Mental Health/Stability
- Degree of Confidence
- Health of Ego
- Sense of Well-Being
I think we all have a base level of Emotional Energy that changes in response to the circumstances and events in our lives and how we react to them.
This is related to happiness, optimism, security, control, comfort, understanding and many other facets that contribute to the optimistic side of our outlook.
There are things that provide a temporary boost (like caffeine or adrenaline) and there are things that can maintain and improve our base/normal level of Emotional Energy on a long-term basis like overall good health, living in a supportive environment or participating in an activity that provides fulfillment.
Note: This is based on my own outlook/opinion... which is always open for revision.
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I'd like to start a list... if you're willing to assist.
What helps increase and improve our level of Emotional Energy?
What events and behaviors help boost Emotional Energy and do they offer a short-term boost or long-term support?
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Feel free to comment on the topic itself... I continue to work on ways to express this idea.
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As this is an optimistic topic... here's "Blue Skies".
(This is the style of jazz/swing I like.)
Comments (25)
i am finding tough to understand
Our nature as human is given with so much energy and to me, I find that being with the man I love help me reach the best of my positive emotional energy. Now there are so many kinds of emotions, and negative and or anything that directs for the darker side is easy. Just the feeling of losing and or being hungry, and or concerned about the helpless gap of the poor and the rich.
Now whichever my direction, I am never depleted with emotions. I am a living being full of it.
Thanks
I think of Emotional Energy as something we can have more of or less of... a full cup, an empty one... anywhere in-between. I'd like to be able to measure it in some objective way (like with a thermometer) but it can't be put on a chart too easily.
If I understand self-actualization correctly (I didn't go look it up) ... this is a manner of goal ... perhaps achieving and living at the peak level of Emotional Energy (always feeling good, confidence, secure and happy).
Perhaps this is the ideal result of practicing the best ways to boost our long term level of emotional energy.
"to reduce our egoism" ... To not feel that we are owed something more... not to allow our expectations to dominate our minds ...
Am I thinking about this correctly?
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india30
1. Receiving/feeling loved (I'm starting the list
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Hi Lindsy
You seem to agree with india30 ... a loving relationship certainly helps support our good emotions.
I think of this as a long-term boost ... and that maintaining relationships like this helps our overall level of emotional energy remain high.
It's nice to see you!
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - an interest way to look at this.
Have you known anyone who had depression? (you don't need to answer, I'm just making a point) ... When our emotional energy is chronically low... we become quieter... we look at a sunny day and say "I'm sure it will be cold and rainy later"... we're sullen and not energetic... we procrastinate... nothing is interesting... we can only fake a smile... over time, as our emotional energy level sinks lower, we spend more time alone, nothing matters anymore... dark thoughts come to us easily.
As the bottom end... with no emotional energy left... people may be suicidal... it gets really bad but to them, it's just "reality"...
But on the top end !!! There is joy and happiness and helping others and laughter and apple pie with ice cream!
On the top end... we're fully content and happy...
But --- Few people ever witness the best or the worst of this... or even recognize that they have some control over it.
Interesting blog! I would like to add as a point - getting to know who we actually are. I believe to have a soul and when happiness is relevant I also relate this to my soul and can be thankful to feel happy. If a person thinks he is only a product of chemical processes in the body and only of the connections in the brain the outlook must be different. This outlook would be totally contrary to mine.
Without reading all the comments, I would say Love, Positive Thinking, and Meditation.
However, before we can reach this level of positive energy, we first have to release all the negative..
Nice to read some thoughtful discussion and introspection. Thank you for contributing it here.
I am in Jac’s corner (I think) when it comes to emotional energy strengthening the higher up the needs hierarchy we go, and I default to Alderfer rather than Maslow (though props to Abraham).
I remember walking into a room and experiencing the emotion of importance because I had played some role in the event inside that room. The emotional charge I got from contribution and recognition, and the empowerment I felt working with mentors who helped me progress towards self-actualization are highs to which I have very strong attachments.
In counterpoint to that, I have lived in a culture foreign to me where avoidance of responsibility is positively reinforced and contribution is negatively punished. I am a fish out of water without the old anchors and I hardly feel important. In fact, quite the opposite as those around me balance out their own inadequacies. And my emotional energy is habitually low.
It is difficult to explain to persons who are fearful that taking a chance on themselves can be intrinsically rewarding. It is hard to take a chance on oneself when one is enveloped within a circle of fear while still easy to intellectualize: like learning to swim in a raging ocean.
I am looking forward to reading part 2.
I'm awake but didn't get enough sleep... it's Saturday... I may head back to my bed :)
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Calleis -
7. Getting to know who we actually are. (<< added to list)... and a long term boost
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I see many things behind this... to recognize that we have value and purpose... not just another animal spending time on Earth.
As the list is built, I'm not worried about any items that are similar... when worded differently, each idea takes on a slightly different meaning.
Having a soul ... in religious context, to have a piece of God within us ... adding to our sense of value/worth.
We're alike in many ways it seems... being brief feels somehow incomplete :) ... I don't keep track of references as well, however.
Thank you so much for your comments! "The Curse of the Strong" ... That was part of my issue... always trying to be the stable and confident one... I've had great conversations with a friend about "bringing order to chaos" (her words).
If you live in a constant flood of chaos (and irrationality), you can ruin your mind by attempting to keep up with it.
For me, the short version of what caused my problem was "trying (for too long) to solve unsolvable problems".
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hypothalamus --- I needed to learn about this on my own ... It turns out we can break our brain! I didn't know... but it also turns out that we can heal it!
Have you heard the term "neuro-plasticity"?
I think of it this way --- Whatever we ask on mind to do, it will become better at. The trap I fell into was that I was asking my mind to solve problems... all the time... at work, at home, problems that hadn't happened yet (I do computer work)... trying to get along with irrational people (unsolvable problem)... so I was teaching my mind to worry ... and eventually, the ability to worry became automatic (and unstoppable
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I'm going to have to read the entire blog again... and will recap the list in a final post... whenever it gets to that point. It's wonderful to have this conversation!
"The emotional charge I got from contribution and recognition, and the empowerment I felt..."
Another great contribution! (thank you
Your counterpoint is a serious one... a culture that is upside down (broken)... where the things that are beneficial are discouraged... ugh.
I often tell people that there is culture in every group... businesses have a culture as do baseball teams, churches, families, and neighborhoods.
If you actively work to improve the culture of your group, your group will be more successful. If you ignore the culture... it is like having a group without a purpose... your group will get better or worse... and you won't know why.
10. Living in a healthy, supportive culture. (long term)
(I have a business relationship whose culture is broken... it isn't horrible but has been a contributor to my mental issues... I'm actively backing away from them currently)
Energy gets transformed ... hmm ... I can see this, but it isn't the way I look at emotional energy... I don't think of it as good and bad but rather has having more or having less... but perhaps if you think about desires to do good or bad things... the energy of the desire may fit the 'transformed but not lost' theory...
23. Positive thoughts! ... Certainly ... (short term but if you make a habit of being optimistic, then long term)
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Regarding emotional energy... we can gain it and we can lose it... at least in the way I'm thinking about it.
It can also be shared, created and destroyed ...
(Decaf
We spent lots of time on exploring what Emotional Energy is. We built a list of many sources of Emotional Energy. We gain energy from people and events... some things we may not recognize as being supportive in this way, are real treasures in our lives.
Emotional Energy Boosters...
1. Receiving love/feeling loved
2. Good sleep
3. Receiving a compliment
4. Witnessing a happy event
5. Good nutrition
6. Exercise
7. Getting to know who we actually are
8. Positive Thinking
9. Meditation
10. Living in a healthy, supportive culture (relationship)
11. Human contact
12. Laughter
13. Smiling
14. Playing with a pet
15. A warm meal
16. Watching children play
17. Watching a sports team score/win
18. Thinking romantic thoughts
19. Daylight and sunshine
20. Calm music
21. Having the television on (being 'with' people)
22. Receiving attention from others
Blog 2 --- Things that decrease our Emotional Energy.
(coming soon)