What is emotional regulation? In this article, you will learn what emotional regulation is, and the skills you need to be mentally strong and healthy.
It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It can not be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.” — Buddha
This quote encapsulates the essence of what “emotion regulation” is all about.
In its purest form, emotional regulation is about you having the skills to control your behavior, emotions, and thoughts in the pursuit of long-term goals – for example living a resilient and flourishing life as opposed to living a life where you are languishing in discontent and frustration.
What Are Emotional Regulation Skills?
Emotional regulation skills help us to effectively manage and change the way we feel and cope with situations. Emotions, thoughts, and what we do or feel the urge to do (behaviors) are all linked; and if not managed well, can lead us down a path of self-sabotage and self-destruction.
When we apply emotional regulation skills into our life then there will be a definite improvement with our thoughts, attitude, and mood. Living life in a more positive way brings major benefits for us – such as increasing our compassion, empathy, and relationships with others.
Emotional Regulation Skills are the key to us living a healthy and well-balanced life – physically, mentally, and spiritually. When we strive to live a balanced life, we build our resilience and our coping strategies to effectively deal with the adversity and the challenges in life.