{"id":26300,"date":"2024-10-09T11:38:39","date_gmt":"2024-10-09T03:38:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/?post_type=oasis-news&p=26300"},"modified":"2024-10-09T11:38:44","modified_gmt":"2024-10-09T03:38:44","slug":"how-to-identify-and-express-your-feelings","status":"publish","type":"oasis-news","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/oasis-news\/how-to-identify-and-express-your-feelings\/","title":{"rendered":"How to identify and express your feelings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Emotional awareness is a skill\u2014one that, like any other, takes time to develop. As uni students, it\u2019s common to get caught up in the demands of assignment deadlines, work and social responsibilities, leaving little room to focus on how we\u2019re feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But here\u2019s the thing\u2014many of us struggle with identifying<\/em> and expressing<\/em> how we feel. Being aware of your emotions isn\u2019t just about recognising when you’re stressed or overwhelmed\u2014it\u2019s about understanding why you feel that way and learning how to express those emotions in a healthy manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while it might sound simple, knowing how to do this can make a huge difference in how we handle stress, maintain relationships and take care of our mental health. So, let\u2019s take a deep dive into how you can recognise and express your emotions to your loved ones in a productive way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why it\u2019s important to identify your feelings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine this: You\u2019ve had a rough day. You missed your bus, forgot an assignment and a friend cancelled on your plans. You feel tense and irritated, but when someone asks you what\u2019s wrong, you just shrug and say, “I’m fine.” Sound familiar?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of us tend to bottle up our emotions, sometimes without even realising it. But the more we push down our feelings, the harder they become to manage. Recognising what you’re feeling allows you to understand yourself better and take steps to improve your mental and emotional wellbeing. It can also help you communicate more effectively with others, which can strengthen your relationships and reduce misunderstandings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So how do you identify your feelings?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you go from “I feel bad” to actually knowing what’s going on inside your head? It starts with tuning into your emotional state. Here are a few steps to help you get started in better identifying your feelings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Pause and check-in<\/strong>: When you\u2019re feeling off, take a moment to pause and really check in with yourself. What\u2019s happening in your body? Are your shoulders tense? Is your heart racing? Physical symptoms can often be clues to underlying emotions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Label your feelings<\/strong>: Instead of just saying, “I\u2019m stressed,” try to dig deeper. Are you feeling anxious, frustrated, or maybe overwhelmed? Giving your feelings specific labels can help you understand them better. Sometimes using assistance, like The Feelings Circle,<\/a> can help you pinpoint exactly what you’re feeling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Notice patterns<\/strong>: Do you often feel irritated before exams? Or maybe you get anxious when you haven\u2019t had enough sleep? Noticing patterns in how you feel in certain situations can help you understand why certain emotions come up\u2014and how to handle them better next time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Ask yourself why<\/strong>: Once you\u2019ve identified a feeling, ask yourself why you\u2019re feeling that way. For example, “Why do I feel angry right now?” Maybe you feel frustrated because you\u2019ve been putting off an assignment, or you\u2019re upset about a disagreement with a friend. Understanding the root cause can help you find solutions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Now that you\u2019ve identified your feelings, how do you express them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bottling up emotions can lead to stress and resentment, but expressing them in a healthy way can help you feel heard and understood. Here\u2019s a few ways you can begin to express your emotions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Talk to someone you trust<\/strong>: Whether it\u2019s a close friend, family member, or even a counsellor, having someone to talk to can make a world of difference. Be open about what you\u2019re feeling and don\u2019t be afraid to be vulnerable. Sometimes, just saying things out loud can help you feel lighter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Use \u201cI\u201d statements<\/strong>: When expressing emotions, especially in conversations with others, try using “I” statements instead of “you” statements. For example, “I feel upset because I didn\u2019t get a chance to explain my side” is more productive than, “You never listen to me.” This helps prevent the other person from feeling defensive and keeps the conversation constructive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Write it down<\/strong>: If you\u2019re not ready to talk about your feelings, journaling<\/a> can be a great outlet. Writing down your thoughts and emotions can help you organise them and understand yourself better.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Express your emotions through action<\/strong>: Sometimes, words aren\u2019t enough. You can express emotions in other ways, too\u2014like through art, exercise or music. Getting your emotions out through creative outlets can be just as effective as talking about them.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Identifying and expressing your feelings isn\u2019t always easy, but it’s an important skill that will help you navigate the ups and downs of all aspects of your life. The more you practice recognising and communicating your emotions, the better you’ll get at managing them. And remember, it\u2019s okay to feel whatever you\u2019re feeling\u2014whether it’s joy, frustration, sadness or excitement. Your emotions are valid, and learning how to express them is all part of taking care of yourself and your wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Mental Health Week is a celebration dedicated to raising awareness about mental wellbeing, encouraging social connection, reducing the stigma around mental health and promoting prevention strategies to keep our communities healthy.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Take a deep dive into how you can recognise and express your emotions to your loved ones in a healthy way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4418,"featured_media":26310,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"6590,8339,580,8215,4657,7166","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","wds_primary_oasis-categories":0,"footnotes":""},"oasis-categories":[146,149],"class_list":["post-26300","oasis-news","type-oasis-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","oasis-categories-student-life","oasis-categories-wellbeing"],"acf":{"post_options":{"":null,"banner":{"image":false}}},"featured_image":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/express-feelings-oasis-banner--1000x500.png","author_meta":{"first_name":"Rachelle","last_name":"Erzay","display_name":"Rachelle Erzay"},"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-17 12:20:09","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"oasis-categories","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-news\/26300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/oasis-news"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4418"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-news\/26300\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"oasis-categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-categories?post=26300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}