By Nikki Eining
CSW-PIP, QMHP
“If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands.” A song familiar to all of us. However, how familiar is the awareness of our body clues of feeling happy to all of us to truly “know it”? Recognizing body clues and sensations to aid in the next steps of labeling emotions is the first key skill in emotional intelligence. Unfortunately, these are not skills we are taught.
Mental health development across the lifespan is as vital as physical and cognitive development. Understanding the biology of our nervous system, the sensations and body clues linked to emotions, and the outcomes of attending to these sensations and body clues, allows us to increase wanted outcomes within our lives. There is a growing trend towards normalizing the practice of developing mental health skills among adults, mirroring the emphasis long placed on physical and academic education. This shift recognizes that mental well-being is integral to overall health and productivity in adulthood. Initiatives promoting mindfulness, stress management, and emotional resilience are gaining traction in workplaces and community settings. Employers are offering resources such as mental health days, counseling services, and workshops on mental health topics. By prioritizing mental health alongside professional development, organizations aim to create healthier, more productive environments where individuals can thrive personally and professionally. This holistic approach acknowledges that mental health skills are essential for navigating the complexities of adult life and achieving long-term well-being.
Dr. Mark Brackett, from Yale University, is renowned for his work on emotional intelligence and the role of emotions in learning, decision-making, and overall well-being. Brackett’s research and teachings focus on how sensations in the body signal emotional states and how acknowledging these feelings can enhance emotional regulation and decision-making. He emphasizes the significance of recognizing comfort levels as a crucial aspect of emotional awareness, suggesting that attunement to one’s emotional comfort can lead to better self-regulation and improved interpersonal interactions.
Practicing these skills is as simple as getting curious about what is happening within our body and noticing if our body is comfortable or uncomfortable. Regularly check in with yourself throughout the day to assess your emotional sensations. Ask yourself how you’re feeling and whether any discomfort or stress is present. Get curious about yourself.
Developing emotional awareness and comfort with these skills is a gradual process that requires patience, self-compassion, and consistency. Be gentle with yourself and celebrate small improvements along the way. By incorporating these practices into your routine, you can cultivate greater emotional awareness, understand your comfort levels more deeply, and create more outcomes you desire to have. You will also truly be able to live the song, “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands.”
Nikki Eining is a private independent practice licensed social worker who serves as the Statewide Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program Coordinator for The USD Center for Disabilities and Owner of Grace Grit Growth Counseling LLC in Brookings, SD. Nikki brings a diverse set of experiences and passions spending over 18 years working in the mental health field. Her previous experience has focused on supporting youth and families in office, school, and community settings without outpatient behavioral health services and prevention programming. She has professional experience in clinical mental health, education, research design, non-profit, program development, and trauma-informed care practices.