Emotional Regulation

Emotion = Energy in Motion

The human nervous system is hardwired to experience a number of Primary Emotions as well an unending variety of conscious and unconscious Feeling States and sensations that propel us through life. Emotions and feelings are the driving forces for our motivations and behavior. Emotions and thoughts often form networks of either functional or dysfunctional associations that generate our actions.

Emotional Regulation is a process that shows some similarities to the human biological functions of circulation and digestion/elimination. The energy of emotion, in emotional self-regulation, must be fluid, like a flowing river.

The central consideration in Emotional Regulation is an individualʼs degree of emotional self-awareness, which is why mindfulness (a mental function of FOCUS) is so critical in being able to identify the emotions that are driving us, as well as being able to skillfully discharge those same emotions in a healthy way––bringing us back to a state of inner balance and stillness.

Emotions and feeling states have the potential to profoundly support or disrupt FLOW. Slump Cycles are often correlated with dysfunctional, unresolved emotions. Peak Performance is more likely to be realized when an athlete can demonstrate emotional self-awareness and regulation under a variety of circumstances, including: deliberate practice, live competition and, primarily, in everyday life and relationships. In the end, there is a greater probability that Peak Performance and Flow will be more consistently experienced in the athlete who has learned to regulate and integrate their emotions in all aspects of their professional and personal lives.