"You have power over your mind, not over external events.
Realise this and you will find strength"
Marcus Aurelius
In the journey of life, we are often faced with a wide spectrum of emotions: from joy to anxiety, from sadness to anger. These emotions can be intense and overwhelming, but they are an integral part of the human experience.
However, what makes the difference is how we manage these emotions, how we regulate our emotional state to navigate through life's challenges with balance and resilience. In psychological terms, what makes the difference is our capacity for self-regulation.
What is Self-Regulation?
Self-regulation refers to the ability to control and manage one's emotions effectively and constructively. It includes awareness of one's emotions, the skill to regulate emotional reactions in stressful situations and the ability to adapt flexibly to the challenges of everyday life. In other words, self-regulation enables people not to be overwhelmed by their emotions, but to manage them so that they can deal with difficult situations calmly, clearly and wisely.
How is Emotional Self-Regulation Developed?
Self-regulation is a skill that can be learned and developed throughout life. It is based on emotional education, personal experience and learning through feedback from the social environment. However, it is also a skill that can be cultivated and enhanced through specific interventions, such as psychotherapy.
During psychotherapy, individuals learn to explore their emotions in a deeper way, identify patterns of thought and behaviour that can negatively influence their emotional reactions, and acquire new strategies for managing stress and coping with life's challenges. Through the work with an experienced therapist, individuals can develop greater emotional awareness and learn practical techniques to regulate their emotional state.
