Are You Analysing Your Emotions Instead of Feeling Them? How to Stop Intellectualising Emotions

In this podcast episode, Sarah Liz King explores the concept of intellectualising emotions and the importance of feeling and acknowledging them instead. She uses the analogy of waves on a beach to illustrate how people often analyse emotions from a distance instead of immersing themselves in the experience. Sarah discusses signs of intellectualising emotions, such as overemphasis on logic and reasoning, and offers five steps to shift away from this habit. She also shares her personal experience and emphasises the benefits of connecting with and expressing emotions for self-awareness and recovery. Ultimately, Sarah encourages listeners to embrace their emotions and cultivate self-compassion.

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Here are some key moments from the episode you won't want to miss:

The invitation to embrace emotions [00:04:46]
Learn the importance of embracing and experiencing emotions authentically for personal growth and self-understanding.

Signs of intellectualising emotions [00:06:13]
Identify signs of intellectualising emotions, like overemphasis on logic, detached language, lack of emotional expression, and minimising emotional experiences.

Examples of intellectualising emotions [00:08:49]
Discover examples of intellectualising emotions, including focusing on external control, avoiding emotional expression, and minimising the significance of emotions.

Signs of Intellectualising Emotions [00:12:44]
Recognise signs of intellectualising emotions, such as relying on cognitive strategies and avoiding therapy or counselling.

Disconnecting from Physical Sensations [00:14:06]
Learn about difficulty recognising or connecting with the physical sensations that accompany emotions, leading to reliance on external cues or rules.

Limited Exploration of Personal Vulnerabilities [00:16:58]
Avoid avoiding exploring personal vulnerabilities and emotional wounds by diverting attention away from them through intellectual analysis of emotions.

Name and validate emotions [00:25:39]
Get tips on how to name and validate emotions instead of identifying with them.

Express emotions in a safe way [00:27:00]
Explore healthy outlets for expressing emotions, such as journaling, talking to trusted individuals, engaging in creative activities, or joining support groups.

Experience the benefits of feeling emotions [00:28:32]
Discover the benefits of feeling emotions, including gaining self-awareness, fostering connections, and building self-compassion and self-care.