The Importance Of Emotional Awareness In Relationships

What is Emotional Awareness? 

Emotional awareness is an important element of emotional intelligence that is concerned with how aware one is of their emotions, thoughts and feelings. Awareness involves being present and knowing what exactly you are feeling, why you are feeling it and what were the triggers that caused you to feel a certain way. Awareness is the first step towards emotional regulation. Only when you are aware of your emotions, thoughts and feelings will you be able to regulate them in a healthy manner.

Imagine a traffic signal. There are three primary colours on a traffic light. Only when you are aware that red symbolises stop, and green symbolises start, will you be able to take an appropriate action. If you don’t have awareness of what the colours stand for then you are going to be clueless on how to proceed. This is exactly how emotional awareness works. When you are aware of what emotion you are feeling and what it symbolises, then you will be able to decide an appropriate course of action.

How does Emotional Awareness impact Relationships?

Emotional awareness is a very important component that determines if you are in a healthy relationship or not. This is because when you are emotionally aware, you will be able to communicate your thoughts, feelings and emotions to your partner clearly. This open communication will help your partner know better on how they can help you. On the other hand, if you are clueless about what you are feeling and you are not aware, then your partner will not be able to help you in the way that you need.

Emotional awareness helps in building understanding between couples. When you explain to your partner exactly how you are feeling, you are opening the space for your partner to validate your emotions and support you through understanding and empathy. A lack of emotional awareness creates a closed atmosphere because you don’t know exactly what to share, and your partner doesn’t know how exactly to help. Emotional awareness can also be a good tool to help easier conflict resolution. This is because when you have greater awareness, you will be able to sort out issues with your partner in a constructive manner and not reactive manner.

Here are some of the benefits of having emotional awareness,

1. Improved Conflict Resolution -

As we mentioned before, having emotional awareness allows you and your partner to resolve conflicts in a more constructive manner. When you are not aware of what you are feeling or how you are feeling, you are going to be reactive during conflicts. This means that you are more likely to react out of anger , sadness etc. Awareness gives you the ability to think and approach conflicts with a more rational, problem-solving approach which is healthy for both you and your partner.

2. Open to Change -

Being emotionally aware is not only beneficial to you but is also beneficial to your partner. When you are understanding of your emotions, you are likely going to be understanding of your partner’s emotions as well. This allows you to be more open to change. Change is bound to occur in any relationship and you are not going to view change as something that is scary because you and your partner have the awareness that is necessary for empathy and understanding to flourish.

3. Growing Together - 

Speaking on the lines of change, emotional awareness gives the room for you and your partner to be in a growth mindset together. When people are reactive, they tend to harbour a fixed mindset. This fixed mindset hinders them from exploring new things in their relationship and can lead to stagnation. When you are aware of yourself and your partner and have an understanding, then adapting or growing together doesn’t seem to be a very daunting task.

4. Improved Well-Being - 

Overall emotional awareness is very beneficial because it helps you have an improved state of well-being. Awareness is the first step towards action and regulation. If you can reflect on your emotions, thoughts and feelings only then can you engage in healthy coping mechanisms to regulate the emotions. This will improve your well-being and will also improve your relationship’s well-being on the whole.

How can you become a more Emotionally Aware Partner?

Now that you know the importance of emotional awareness, here’s some good news! You can learn to become more emotionally aware through consistency and dedication! It is not a skill that people are necessarily born with and can be learnt anytime. Here are some of the ways in which you can be more emotionally aware,

1. Regular Self-Reflection - 

One of the best ways you can become more emotionally aware is by engaging in regular self-reflection. This self-reflection can be done through journaling or by just paying attention to the normal ways in which you react and respond. This will allow you to observe the exact emotions you are feeling and can help you see the triggers behind the emotions. Self-reflection will help you in choosing healthier ways of responding in future circumstances or situations.

2. Active Listening - 

Emotional awareness is not restricted to only being aware of what you are feeling, it is also paying attention to what others around you are feeling. If your partner is engaging in a deep conversation with you, practise active listening. Active listening will help you be more empathetic to your partner and will also make you aware of how they feel, what they feel etc.

3. Communicating Openly - 

Along with being an active listener, you must also be a good communicator. When you communicate with your partner openly on how you are feeling, you are creating a space where your partner can come and do the same. Communicating also involves expressing your needs, wants and desires with your partner without fear of judgement and criticism. Expressing yourself openly is a healthy habit in every relationship that preserves the vitality of the relationship.

4. Building a Tool-Kit of Healthy Coping Mechanisms -

Once you are aware of your emotions, thoughts, feelings, it is important to equip yourself with a tool-kit of healthy coping mechanisms that will allow you to deal with the negativity of difficult emotions. Only awareness leaves you feeling helpless, you must also know what to do about the emotions that are difficult and negative. Healthy coping mechanisms include having a support system, journaling, engaging in physical exercise etc.

5. Seeking Professional Help -

Oftentimes we don’t know where to begin to learn emotional awareness. In cases like these, it is helpful to reach out to professionals who can help you through your journey of emotional awareness. Therapist's or Psychologists can help you become emotionally aware through exercises and prompts.

By reading this article you have taken the first step towards becoming emotionally aware! Keep following us and you will learn more ways in which you can be your best self for yourself and for those around you