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FEATURES FEATURES

VITAL FOR OUR SURVIVAL EMOTIONAL SELF-CARE
Emotions are part and parcel of being human, Ng said. Whether virtual or face-to-face interactions, socialising or
reaching out to others is very important in managing one’s
In fact, emotions are adaptive responses that play an important role in human survival, helping emotions.
us navigate through life by assessing what could be nurturing and safe, or harmful and scary.
“It has been shown in many longitudinal studies that
Emotions also communicate our subjective experiences, informing others of how we feel so that meaningful relationships and socialisation are key to better
they know how to interact with us.
quality of life and emotional management. Pick up the phone
‘Being emotional’ often carries a negative connotation in society, with an emotional person seen and talk to someone,” Ng advised.
as irrational, weak and senseless. In contrast, the general perception is that a stoic or emotionless Behavioural activation is another way to reduce the likelihood
person is wiser, distinguished and more likely to make better decisions.
of unpleasant feelings by pre-empting bad moods with
“Once you start appreciating emotions as learning moments, you can learn how to detect opportunities for good moods.
common distortions in thinking, as well as irrational beliefs that we all have,” he said.
“ ink of all the things you do that make you feel good and
Not being able to express strong feelings can prove unhealthy in the long run, as repressed list as many as possible every day. Include these activities in
emotions may turn up in unhealthy ways such as pent-up anger or prolonged stress. is then your calendar – at least two each in the morning, afternoon
negatively a ects our physical health, with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, said Ng. and night. ese increase chances of feeling good daily – an
example of positive psychology and a preventive approach to
managing emotions.”

THE

SCIENCE

OF “We will experience strong emotions in life whether Professor Dr. Alvin sharing his experience at a Sunway Conference MANAGING EMPLOYEE’S

FEELINGS 101
CREATE A POSITIVE EMOTIONAL CULTURE AT WORK
we like it or not, and if we do not learn how to
EMOTIONS manage our emotions e ectively, they can stir up Companies would do well to encourage and enable employees to manage their emotions without judgement Socialise often. Greet
internal con ict and confusion, as well as
Listen actively
each other, make small
e ectively, as it leads to better problem-solving, creativity, innovation, and time management –
inappropriate social responses,” said Sunway
talks, dine together
essentially, better productivity.
University’s School of Medical and Life Sciences
associate dean (International) Professor Dr. Alvin Ng.
A workplace that acknowledges an honest expression of emotions – both positive and negative Be curious Keep emotions in
Poor emotional management can also lead to a lapse – creates a better and psychologically safe working environment. is in turn nurtures a positive about emotions check and express
in concentration, poor decision-making, lower organisational culture that can boost employee morale, said Ng. your emotions readily
productivity, and a higher risk of mental health so others can tell how
issues, Ng said. Identifying problematic ways of thinking – or irrational beliefs – is the rst step towards nurtur- Validate the you feel
ing healthier emotional wellbeing, as we can then adopt more adaptive perspectives and keep
e good news is that we have a choice in how we practising them, Ng said. feelings of others
respond to our emotions. Check in with
Children could be taught emotional literacy so that they are competent in managing their each other
“Science shows us that we can learn about why we feel emotions growing up, which contributes to their resilience and problem-solving skills, Celebrate feelings
a certain way, its consequences and how we can change Ng said. or behaviours of
the way we respond to the same event di erently, so One way to promote emotional literacy at work is by focusing on e ective communication, others that you Actively practice
that there are better corollaries,” said Ng. which necessitates re ecting on personal emotions and that of others. would like to see and model healthy
habits
more of
Companies could also organise sessions on the importance of emotional literacy to break the
negative stigma.
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