Emotional Movement Technique
The Emotional Movement Technique is effective for relieving stress and increasing EQ. One of the benefits of this exercise is that it takes 2 minutes or less to complete. Think of an issue that you find stressful. Follow these steps and work with the biology and psychology of stress relief.
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Shift out of the neural hijacking of the emotional brain with diaphragmatic breathing.
- Breathe so that when you inhale you feel your abdomen rise and when you exhale feel your abdomen gently contract. This is called diaphragmatic breathing. Allow this to be the rhythm of your breath.
- Feel the complete and total support of the surface on which you rest. Should your mind begin to wander at any time, simply note that your mind has wandered and gently and firmly guide your awareness back to the sensations of your in-breath and out-breath. Thoughts come and go. They flow and they change. Simply note them when they arise and come back to the rhythm of your breath.
- Don’t worry if this feels new. It may take some practice for your body to adjust to this breath pattern. This is the most natural breath for your body. Allow yourself to find the effortless rhythm of your breath. Your body is aware that it is rejuvenating and being replenished with every in-breath and out-breath. How you breathe has everything to do with how you live. If you are not relaxed you cannot readily get out of the neural hijacking of your emotional brain. Consequently, you cannot easily get in touch with the power of your emotional intelligence.
Emotional Movement
Move your emotional energy by focusing on the area of your body that is currently holding your emotions.
Where do you feel your emotions in your body? You may notice sensations such as warmth, pressure, tingling, tightness, etc in one or more areas of your body.
Notice what you feel. Label your emotion while you breathe consciously and deeply in and out of this area for 5 full deep breaths. Consciously release this emotional energy on the exhale.
Do your best to stay out the story of why you feel the way you do and focus instead on releasing your feelings through your exhale. When you allow yourself to feel you move your emotional energy. Through emotional movement, you are working with the purpose of emotions. When you move this energy you disengage from the neural hijacking of your emotional brain. It is not effective to try and think your way through the feeling process. The more you practice this Emotional Movement Technique the more you strengthen your EQ.
Coaching and Counseling
Hilary Stokes Ph.D. and Kim Ward Ph.D. have been a team for 20 years, specializing in mind, body, spirit psychology. They are the authors of the bestselling books The Happy Map: Your roadmap to the habit of happiness and Manifesting Mindset: The 6-step formula for attracting your goals and dreams and founders of Authenticity Associates Coaching and Counseling. They are passionate about combining the best of holistic and traditional approaches to health and happiness. If you are interested in learning the answers to the most frequently asked questions on how to decrease stress and increase happiness sign up for their free video series.
