Reflecting on One's Emotions

In the Inspiring Leadership through Emotional Intelligence course, I watched a video speaking about social-emotional training that was provided at schools. The interesting thing was the "lights" system used during such training.

1. The red light was used to signal stop, what are you feeling? Try labeling it.
2. The yellow light represented: what does it mean? What are you likely to do whenever you feel this way?
3. Finally the green light symbolized: what should you do next to be more helpful to yourself and others?

The study was conducted by CASEL and found out that such social-emotional training has resulted in a great increase in the academic and social performance of students at that school.

The above exercise can be used during training workshops by soft skills trainers perhaps in communication skills training programs.

Effect of Stressful and Pleasant Encounters - Exercise

While watching the second video of the Inspiring Leadership through Emotional Intelligence online course, I came across an interesting exercise that can be done during a training workshop about leadership or about relationships at work. The exercise simply goes something like this:

1. Sit comfortably, relax, your back straight and your hands on your knees.
2. Close your eyes.
3. Think of an annoying person whom you have dealt with and an annoying and stressful situation that took place with such person.
1. What emotions do you feel?
2. What bodily sensations, if any, do you feel in your body and where?
4. Now think of a 3-year old child or a pet, you are playing with that child and hugging the child.
1. Now what emotions do you feel?
2. What bodily sensations do you feel in your body and where?
5. Reflect on your emotional and bodily sensations and write them down.

Participants in the workshop can then share their sensations with one another. Trainer may also reflect on the activity and summarize or add up common sensations that commonly take place during each part of that exercise including both emotional and physical (bodily) ones.