How do I Improve my Emotional Maturity?

This is one of the core competencies as a coach everyone is looking for - Emotional Maturity.

As a coach, we should have better emotional control.

Research at the National Institute of Mental Health by Candace Pert has demonstrated that emotions are particularly intimately related with neuropeptides, long-chain protein molecules that circulate throughout the organs of the body and act like “messenger molecules,” conveying information about what is happening in one part of the body throughout the entire system.

In her book, Molecules of Emotion (1997), Pert considers emotions to be a transformative link between mind and body, the mysterious quantum mechanical interface where information turns into matter and our bodies synthesize the chemicals of consciousness.

Emotional states such as anger, sorrow, depression, and joy can be influenced and even directed by us. Controlling the same is not easy. They do not work like switch! On or off!

In 1972, psychologist Paul Eckman suggested that there are six basic emotions that are universal throughout human cultures: fear, disgust, anger, surprise, happiness, and sadness.

In the 1980s, Robert Plutchik introduced another emotion classification system known as the “wheel of emotions.” This model demonstrated how different emotions can be combined or mixed together, much the way an artist mixes primary colors to create other colors.

In 1999, Eckman expanded his list to include a number of other basic emotions, including embarrassment, excitement, contempt, shame, pride, satisfaction, and amusement.

As a coach, we have to have better control of our Emotion.

What should we do to control our emotions better way? Same we can share with team members when we find the need improvement in emotional control.
For news of the heart, ask the face. -West African saying

Some of the things that I ampursuingg to control my emotions.

a) Avoid the trigger: Iinvariablys write down andobservee what triggers the emotional hijack. I actively watch out for all these trigger points. I consciously visualize later that how well I have to perform to avoid such triggers.

b) Express the emotion to someone: I have a few trusted companions whom I express my emotional expression whatever it is. After that, I feel Great. I have to vent out all these emotions, I do not bottle those up.

c) I tried not to react but this is something I am practicing to respond. Sometimes situations trigger me to react to others. I am practicing hard consciously to improve.

d) When I felt I am not able to control my emotions, I tried to think something else, keep quiet for some time! even in the middle of the discussion. I change the thoughts, think something different esp ocean, cute animals, etc.

e) Write a note about my emotional experience: A good retrospect on a notebook about an emotional journey help me to discover the emotional strengthening exercise.

f) Breathing, I do deep breathing exercises during the emotional high or low state,. It helps to divert attention to the breathing and control the emotions.

g) I am a believer in supernatural power. Sometimes it helps me as I have faith in place there. I ask for support, and I get the same.

h) Few quick physical exercises to change of blood flow in body! Exercise helps to better emotion control.

As all of us know it is not so easy, it is a life long endeavor to mature our emotional state. People say we will be happier when we have better emotional control.
“A man who is master of himself can end a sorrow as easily as he can invent a pleasure. I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.” - Oscar Wilde (1992, 88)