The Importance of Positive Emotions

With the stress of the holidays, we can often find ourselves feeling worried, frustrated, anxious, overwhelmed, fearful, etc. Instead, let’s focus on adding more positive emotions to our day especially through the holiday season.

Positive emotions cause us to live an optimistic lifestyle. When we feel these emotions frequently in life, they cause us to live a happier, healthier life. Positive emotions help us sleep better, feel more resilient, increase creativity, open your mind, broaden your awareness of the world, be open to new opportunities, socialize more and extend our lifespan. We want you to focus on having more positive emotions, but not to eliminate or avoid negative emotions. Negative emotions are a natural part of life and should not be avoided. We need to feel to heal. We just don’t want you to get stuck having a “Negative Default."

After going through the list of emotions, ask yourself:

What can I do to feel these emotions more often?

How can I add more of these emotions into my day?

What triggers these emotions?

Pick a different emotion each day for 2 weeks and see if you can bring out the emotion in others, show the emotion to others or add more of that emotion to your day.

Positive Emotions- these are the top 10 positive emotions, but there are more.

1.      Love- #1 frequently felt emotion. Love encompasses all the positive emotions below. Savor the experiences with people you love.

2.      Joy – Creates the urge to play, be creative, push the limits. It’s a perfect moment when everything is as it should be.

3.      Gratitude – It creates our hearts to open and see all the good in our lives.

4.      Serenity- Creating a peaceful moment where we are in the present moment.

5.      Interest –  is a heightened state that calls your attention to something new that inspires you and leaves you wanting more.

6.      Hope – Its knowing there is a better future ahead. You realize today and yesterday don’t dictate your tomorrow. It lets you know that possibilities exist.

7.      Pride – A sense of pleasure for attaining an achievement. Creates the urge to share good news with others.

8.      Amusement – Unexpected moments that make you laugh. It causes fun in your life. Be intentional and make amusement part of your week.

9.      Inspiration – Witness excellence and then aspire to reach it, it also touches your heart.

10.  Awe/Wonderment – Overwhelmed by greatness. It connects us to the world around us.

As you go through each emotion, ask yourself the following questions:

1.      When was the last time I felt this emotion? Where was I? What was I doing?

2.      What else gives me that feeling?

3.      What else can I do to cultivate that feeling?

Here are a few more questions to ask ourselves to help to feel positive emotions

1.      What went right today?

2.      What’s going right in my life?

3.      What am I grateful for in my life? Today?

4.       Who can I say, “Thank you” to?

5.      What brings me happiness?

6.      What can I celebrate?

7.      What’s beautiful in my physical environment?

Diane Lang ― Therapist, Educator and Life Coach

As a Therapist, Educator and Positive Living Expert, Diane has dedicated her career to helping people turn their lives around and is now on a mission to help them develop a sustainable positive attitude that can actually turn one into an optimist, literally.

 Through her three books, “Creating Balance & Finding Happiness”, “Baby Steps: the Path from Motherhood to Career” and “ Mindfully Happy- waking up to life.”  Diane has been speaking and empowering people nationwide. She is also an Adjunct in Psychology at Montclair State University, where her college work includes mentoring students for personal issue advisement.

 As an expert in her fields of therapy, Lang has been featured in the Daily Record, Family Circle, Family Magazine, Working Mother Magazine and Cookie Magazine, seen on NJ 12 TV, Good day CT, Style CT, The Veira Network, CBS TV and “Fox & Friends”.  She has also participated in a reality based Internet show, ourprisoner.com, hosted Generation X-tinet.

www.dlcounseling.com or email Diane at [email protected]