All Feelings Are Okay: Naming Our Emotions

Feelings are like signals from our body and brain that tell us what's happening around us and inside us. Sometimes they are comfortable, like happiness, and sometimes they are uncomfortable, like sadness or anger.It's important to remember that there are no 'bad' feelings. All feelings are natural and okay to have. When we learn to name our feelings, we can understand them better. It's like turning on a light in a dark room – suddenly, you can see what's there and it's not so scary.

Imagine you're building a really cool tower with blocks, but it keeps falling over. You try again and again, but it won't stay up!Notice your body: You might feel your face get hot, your hands might squeeze into fists, and you might want to groan or shout.Think of a name: This tight, stuck feeling has a name. It's called frustration.Say it: You can say to yourself, 'I am feeling frustrated right now because my tower keeps falling.'Just naming the feeling can help you take a breath and decide what to do next, like take a short break or try a different way.

Your best friend is having a birthday party this weekend, and you can't wait to go! You've been looking forward to it all week.Notice your body: You might feel bouncy and full of energy, like you have butterflies in your stomach. You might be smiling a lot and find it hard to sit still.Think of a name: This bubbly, energetic feeling is called excitement.Say it: You can think, 'I feel so excited about the party!'Naming happy feelings is great, too! It helps us notice and enjoy the good moments in our day.