How to understand your feelings

Understanding your feelings can sometimes feel like solving a mystery about yourself. Here are some tips to help you crack the case:

1. Recognise the emotion: Start by naming what you feel. Is it happiness, excitement, worry, or sadness? Sometimes it's a mix! Giving your feelings a name is like putting a label on them, making them easier to understand.

2. Check Your body: Feelings often come with physical clues. Maybe your heart races when you're anxious, or you feel a warm glow when you're happy. Your phsyical body is full of clues.

3. What's the trigger? Think about what happened before you felt this way. Did someone say something? Did something exciting or scary happen? Understanding what caused the feeling helps you make sense of it.

4. Express yourself: Talk or write about your feelings. Sometimes putting them into words helps you understand them better. You could talk to someone you trust, write in a journal, or draw how you feel.

5. Accept your feelings: Remember, all feelings are okay! There are no "good" or "bad" emotions. They're like different colours in your emotional rainbow, each important in its own way.

6. Be patient: Sometimes feelings take time to make sense. It's okay if you don't understand right away. Keep being curious and exploring how you feel.

7. Practice self-care: Take care of yourself when you're figuring out your feelings. Whether it's taking deep breaths, listening to music, or doing something you love, self-care helps you handle emotions better.

8. Ask for help: If you're struggling to understand your feelings or they're overwhelming, it's perfectly okay to ask for help. Talk to a parent, teacher, or counsellor—sometimes sharing with someone else can make things clearer.

Understanding your feelings is like becoming friends with yourself. The more you know about how you feel, the better you can take care of yourself and navigate what life throws your way.