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TUĞÇE YAZGAN
UGM Education Specialist
We experience both positive and negative emotions throughout life. The important thing is to allow ourselves to experience our feelings without labeling them as good or bad and not to break away from reality while doing this. If we cannot correctly perceive the information provided by our emotional system, errors in our decisions and thought mechanisms will be inevitable. Wrong perceptions lead to not knowing ourselves, rejecting, suppressing, and even punishing ourselves.
Physics defines durability as "the resistance of a solid object to different effects such as stretching, compression or compression without losing its properties." "The ability of a solid object to change its shape when a force is applied and to regain its previous shape when the force is removed" is called elasticity. For example, a tire to which tension force is applied stretches and becomes longer; It returns to its previous state when the application is quit. However, if the applied force exceeds a particular threshold value, the elasticity of the object is lost. The object is either permanently deformed or disintegrated. In summary, "durability" is how long a solid object can withstand "without losing its elasticity or breaking apart" when applied force. Although it is a concept related to physics, we often encounter the concept of resilience in the psychological field.
ADAPTING OVER TIME TO LIFE-CHANGING SITUATIONS
Earthquakes, epidemics, loss of a loved one, dismissal, and similar traumatic events are difficult life experiences. Many people experience intense emotions or may show different reactions to such events. Over time, people can adapt to situations where their lives change "due to such stressful events." The most fundamental factor in realizing this harmony is the phenomenon of "psychological resilience," a process that "requires people to take certain steps and requires effort and time." 1 This concept, expressed in English with the word "resilience," is translated into Turkish as "psychological resilience" or "emotional resilience It is translated as. "Psychological resilience is also an important competence that "provides the ability to adapt."
DEVELOPING EMOTIONAL AWARENESS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
Today's world is full of uncertainties. Every new change brings stress to our lives. Our survival strategies against these stress factors come to the fore. Because throughout human history, we have all had one goal: survival. In the early ages, this situation was "getting rid of the attack of a predatory animal." In today's world, for some of us, it is the process of looking for a new job; for some, it is getting healthy again. In difficult times, "our ability to adapt to the situation and act accordingly" keeps us alive. At this point, it is essential to develop our emotional awareness "to cope with difficulties and maintain our resilience."
"WHAT IS THE WORST POSSIBILITY THAT COULD HAPPEN?" CONSIDERING THAT…
Emotional awareness is "experiencing the emotion and having knowledge about the emotion at that moment." When faced with a stressful situation, it is essential to "identify which emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, and anxiety are contacted." Sometimes, emotions can cause us to perceive situations differently than they are. Positive and negative emotions are processed in different brain parts and triggered at various intensities. While the impact of positive emotions lasts shorter, negative emotions are more likely to be experienced intensely and permanently.
"What's the worst that could happen?" When you think about this, you gain a new, more realistic perspective on coping with this situation. This way, we can regulate our emotions, stand firm in the face of difficulties, and maintain our relationship with reality.
EXPERIENCE THE EMOTION WITHOUT LABELING GOOD OR BAD…
We experience both positive and negative emotions throughout life. The important thing is to allow ourselves to experience our feelings without labeling them as good or bad and not to break away from reality while doing this. If we cannot correctly perceive the information provided by our emotional system, errors in our decisions and thought mechanisms will be inevitable. Wrong perceptions lead to not knowing ourselves, rejecting, suppressing, and even punishing ourselves.
UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING EMOTIONS…
Conversely, psychological resilience includes characteristics such as developing a positive perspective when dealing with life's difficulties, maintaining self-confidence, and being able to learn from mistakes. Understanding and managing emotions and relating to others is critical to success. A person with intense emotional regulation skills can stay calm and make the right decisions even in a stressful work environment.
WHAT CHARACTERISTICS MAKE US DURABLE?
Psychological resilience and emotional awareness are skills that can be developed over time. In a study on this subject, the question "Which characteristics make us resilient?" In response to the question, the following seven critical skills are expressed:
-Accepting the existing situation,
-Not distorting reality with emotions different from what they are,
-Taking responsibility for our actions,
-Improving our social relations,
-Being able to act solution-oriented in the face of events,
-Being future-oriented,
-The belief that we have a high impact on our lives.
With these critical skills, we can better understand ourselves by reflecting on our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors and uncover patterns that inhibit our resilience and awareness.
In conclusion, "resilience" and "emotional awareness" are intertwined constructs contributing significantly to our well-being. By understanding the importance of these factors and actively developing them, we can improve our ability to cope with challenges, regulate emotions effectively, and live a "balanced and fulfilling" life.
Footnote:
1Reliability and Validity Study of the Psychological Resilience Scale for Adults. (2011, 2.22). Turkish Journal of Psychiatry, p. 105.
