Waves

Riding the Waves

In the vast expanse of our inner landscapes, we find ourselves amidst the constant ebb + flow of emotions, like the undulating motion of ocean waves. This month, we delve into the metaphor of 'Waves' as our guiding theme, exploring its philosophical depths for our journey towards emotional well-being + self-discovery.

Embracing the Waves

The concept of waves encapsulates the flow of life, encompassing rises, peaks, + descends; the ebb + flow of high + low moments.

As Lalah Delia so beautifully articulates it ‘Embrace the waves of emotion that come crashing over you. They are a reminder of your humanity + your capacity to feel.’ These waves of emotion crashing over us serve as powerful reminders of our humanity + our profound capacity to feel deeply.

Central to our exploration is the understanding that our emotional well-being is our responsibility, calling us to embrace the tumultuous waves of our inner world with courage + compassion.

Understanding Emotions

To be human is to feel. But those feelings are complex + at times, difficult to navigate + we’re often unaware of what they’re called, never mind understanding them! However, amidst this complexity, lies the potential for deeper self-awareness + emotional mastery. By learning to identify primary emotions, we gain insight between physiological responses, behavioural expressions, and subjective experiences.

Psychologist Dr. Robert Plutchik proposed that there are eight primary emotions that serve as the foundation for all others: joy, sadness, acceptance, disgust, fear, anger, surprise, + anticipation. He created the Emotion Wheel to visualise the complexity of emotions and help people identify + label their emotions.

Navigating Moods + Emotions

Mood + emotions are similar in that they reflect the way you’re feeling for a longer period of time. However, some psychologists would say that emotions are more dependent on context, more intense, and shorter-lasting than moods. In addition, emotions are thought to arise as reactions to thoughts we have, while moods are not reactions to specific thoughts, but rather a series of recent experiences.

Riding the Waves

Embracing a yoga-inspired lifestyle equips us to journey through the vast spectrum of emotions. It empowers us to harness our present-moment power, recognise our current emotional state, and respond with what we truly need, infused with kindness + compassion. With dedicated practices like asana, meditation, pranayama, journaling, tapping (EFT), and more, we skill-fully navigate life's waves, carving out inner stillness amidst the ever-changing tides."

Learn More

Learn more about living a life with the energy of love + how to live a yoga-inspired life over on the Inspired Club.