 Hey Psych2Goers welcome back to our channel. Thank you all so much for the love that you've given us. Your ongoing support has helped us make psychology and mental health more accessible to everyone. So thank you. Now let's continue. As human beings we are all hardwired to feel things and react on an emotional level to the things going on around us. From the moment we're born, we cry when we're sad or hungry or in need. We feel angry towards the people who hurt us. We're afraid of the things that might be dangerous and we feel happy when we're given love, kindness and affection. These emotions come so naturally to us and it's natural for us to express them. But somewhere along the way it all gets complicated. We start getting confused about what we were feeling and why we were feeling it. There were some emotions that we didn't quite know how to deal with so we ended up repressing, denying or hiding our true feelings. Understanding our emotions not only helps us better understand ourselves but also helps us build a deeper and more meaningful life. So with that said, here are seven of the most important things you need to know about your emotions. Number one, you are not your emotions. Emotions are important, but they don't define who we are. There are electrochemical signals flowing from your brain to your body as a reaction to your day-to-day experiences. Your emotions are simply there to regulate your thoughts and behaviors based on these experiences and provide you data about the world around you. They don't inform your character or impact who you are, unless you want them to and to think otherwise robs you of your identity as a person outside of your emotions. You can allow yourself the freedom to get angry without thinking it makes you an angry person or to feel happy without pressuring yourself to act like a happy person all the time. Two, emotions come and go. One of the main reasons why we say there's so much more to a person than just their emotions is because our emotions frequently come and go. And something as fundamental to us as our identity shouldn't be defined by something as fickle and ever-changing as how we feel. Even the most intense emotions and physical reactions like crying, shaking and screaming, rise, peak and fall within a matter of minutes. Number three, emotions don't always need a specific reason. Have you ever felt a certain way but didn't know why or had to grapple with an emotion that hits you out of nowhere? While it can be confusing and difficult to make sense of our emotions when we don't know what the reason behind them is, sometimes you just need to let yourself feel whatever it is that you're feeling and try not to get so caught up in figuring out why you're feeling it. There could be a dozen different reasons why you're feeling something, but it's okay to feel it. Whether you're feeling sad, upset, happy or scared, be honest about how you feel and accept it without judgment. All of your feelings are valid. Number four, emotions don't always need a reaction. Whether it's anger, jealousy, sadness or discontentment, there's nothing wrong with feeling a certain way. You don't have to feel guilty or ashamed about your emotions as long as you also understand that not every emotion deserves to be acted upon. When you wind up losing control and let your emotions get the better of you, you can say hurtful things or do something you'll later come to regret. Number five, there are no negative emotions. While most of us believe that feelings can be either good or bad, psychologists actually argue that all feelings are neutral. There's no such thing as a positive or negative emotion because emotions aren't inherently anything. They're only what we make of them. And though it can sometimes feel painful or overwhelming to feel things so strongly and deeply, allowing yourself to experience your true emotions can teach you a great deal about yourself and who you really are. This is because, six, all emotions serve a purpose. You experience a wide spectrum of different multifaceted emotions. Your feelings are a natural part of life and they serve to let you know how you're affected by what goes on both within your life and within yourself. Every emotion serves a purpose to point you in the right direction and to help make sense of what you're going through. For example, envy and discontentment can signal that there's a need you're not satisfying for yourself and could be missing from your life. Anger lets you know that your boundaries have been crossed. Anxiety and fear keep you safe from potential danger. Happiness teaches you to seek out the people in places that make you feel loved. Feelings of sadness are a way for you to process the loss of something that was once important to you. Seven, emotions are contagious. Last but not least, something you need to know about your emotions is that they can be very contagious. Several scientific studies have found that when you're in a group of people, you subconsciously mimic the emotions of those around you as an expression of your innate desire to belong. With that in mind, it's no wonder why having toxic people in your life can bring you down and emotionally drain you. This is why it's important to surround yourself with people who lift you up that you enjoy spending time with and whom you truly feel connected to. Did you learn something new about yourself and your emotions? Please like and share this video if it helped you and you think it could help someone else too. The studies and references used are listed in the description below. 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