One Positive Action

Name Your Emotion

Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or just plain “ugh”? Stop for a second and try this trick: label the emotion you’re feeling. Seriously, give it a name. It doesn’t have to be fancy, call it “Frustrated Ferdinand,” “Overwhelmed Octavia,” or even just “That Ugh Feeling.” By naming it, you’re doing something super powerful: you’re creating a little distance between you and the emotion instead of letting it run the show.

Think of it this way. When you’re dealing with “Frustrated Ferdinand,” you’re not just frustrated, you’re recognizing that Ferdinand’s hanging out in your brain uninvited. Once you name it, you can figure out what to do with it. Do you need a break, a vent session, or just a snack? (Snacks solve more than we like to admit.) Giving the emotion a name makes it feel smaller and way less scary.

The cool thing is that this isn’t just a silly exercise, it’s backed by science. Naming emotions helps you gain clarity and manage them better. So the next time life feels like it’s piling on, pause and say, “Oh, hello, Overwhelmed Octavia, what’s your deal today?” Then take a deep breath, figure out the next step, and maybe even laugh at how ridiculous Octavia’s being.

It’s all about separating yourself from the storm. You’re not the emotion; you’re the person noticing it. And you’re way stronger than “Ferdinand” or “Octavia” will ever be. Seriously. They’ve got nothing on you.