Vishen LakhianiFounder of Mindvalley | NYT Bestselling Author | Transforming Lives Globally

Susan David on how to label your emotions

26 Apr 2022 · 1 min

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Susan David explains that people often apply broad labels like "stressed" to complex emotional experiences. She argues that coarse labels obscure the specific underlying emotions (e.g., disappointment, fear, feeling unsupported, depleted), and that using more precise labels helps the body and mind prepare concrete responses (seeking connection, care, rest, or support).

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We often use very big labels to describe what we're feeling. We'll say something like, I'm stressed, but actually underneath the stress, you're not stressed. You're disappointed or you are afraid or you feel unsupported or you deplete it. So when we use a very big, broad brushstroke to label what we're feeling, our body and our psychology doesn't really know what to do with that. When instead we use accurate labels, what that already starts to do is it starts to ready your body and your psychology to move in the direction of how can I get more connection or care or rest or support?