Hi Kira Leskew here, did you know that emotions can sideswipe your ability to concentrate,
even if you don't know how you feel. I am going to tell you how this works
and how to start to deal with it in 5 minutes or less so stay tuned.
In previous videos, I have been talking about emotions and concentration, but what if you
don't actually know how you feel? Just because you can't clearly articulate how you feel
doesn't mean that your emotions aren't affecting your ability to concentrate.
In fact, they are more likely to interfere if you're not aware of them.
This video actually ties into an aspect of emotional intelligence, and even those of
us that are quite adept at recognizing emotions in others, may not always be able or willing
to do it for ourselves. Being aware of emotions is actually one of the main mindfulness meditation
practices. But you don't need to learn to do a sitting meditation to learn to identify
your emotions. The following is a great way to start using
mindfulness for emotions to improve your concentration.
First, ask yourself this question: What emotion do I feel?
Name it. Anger, frustration, excitement. Go back and see if you can concentrate.
If you can't, repeat it again. Don't worry if you don't get the names
right when you are identifying emotions, really, only you know how you feel.
So what feels like happiness and enthusiasm for me, might feel something different for you.
Or what I call anger, might be something different for you.
The important part of learning to identify emotions is that you are now paying
attention to them by naming them, rather than suppressing them. Again, if old emotional patterns come up,
that are overwhelming, you may need professional help so please go get it.
And you can do this exercise in addition to any professional help that you are getting.
However, if your emotions are due to what is happening in this moment, then they are gonna
dissipate fairly quickly, and your concentration should return. Or at least you've dealt with that aspect.
But sometimes we get an emotion going, and it develops some momentum and becomes an emotional state.
I'm going to be doing a separate exercise on improving your emotional state so that you can bring yourself back
when you've got some momentum going, so stay tuned for that video and check out the cards for this video.
I'll make sure it's on the playlist.
Also, I am going to be offering an on-line
course in developing concentration, so stay tuned for that.
And please make sure you leave comments, tell me what you need, what's working and where you're being challenged.
I'll answer them for you because I want you to succeed and I want to help you improve your concentration.