07/04/2026
Emotional Control: A fundamental life skill to make ourselves feel better.
In most cases in our life everyone complains of being at the mercy of their moods/emotions, largely because our brains are wired in a way that gives us little control over when emotions arise or which emotions we experience.
Our moods and emotions, whether positive or negative, influence daily decisions. While emotions are unavoidable they need to be balanced.
Despite the fact that emotions are unavoidable, the good thing is, everyone of us can influence how long emotions last through emotional control. Importantly, our overall well-being is shaped by the balance between positive and negative emotions.
The ancient Greek concept of sophrosyne captures this idea of balance. It represents moderation, self-discipline, and inner harmony, and was considered by philosophers like Plato and Aristotle as essential for living a good and ethical life.
Sophrosyne emphasizes avoiding extreme moods or emotions, controlling impulses, and maintaining a balanced mind. Simply put, it’s about knowing your limits and acting with balance and self-discipline.
As human beings, cultivating self-control and inner strength is crucial to remain steady through life’s ups and downs, otherwise you will be overwhelmed or controlled by emotions.
An important point to note; when emotions are left uncontrolled and become too intense and persist longer, they can spiral into harmful extremes such as chronic anxiety, uncontrollable anger, or depression affecting your relationships and performance at home, work or business.
To enhance/improve our performance in all areas of our life and make ourselves feel better managing our emotions is an ongoing and full-time responsibility for everyone.
Reference: Goleman, D. (1995) Emotional intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ. New York: Bantam Books.