Why Emotions Matter: Recognize Your Body Signals. Grow in Emotional Intelligence. Discover an Embodied Spirituality.

by Tristen K. Collins, Jonathan D. Collins, Melissa Binder

For some, emotions are overwhelming and all-important. For others, they are bothersome and irrational. No matter where you fall on the emotional spectrum, one thing is for sure: God designed you as an emotional being. Your emotions have purpose, and they're worth handling with curiosity, respect, and wisdom.What might it look like for you to have a healthy relationship with emotions? Could you learn to discern them and use them wisely? Through the unified lens of current research and scriptural teaching, this guide explores: how emotions work as signals on your body's internal dashboard, why emotions are valuable (even when they are unpleasant), what to do when your emotions don't match the situation, helpful tools and habits to cultivate emotional health over the long-term, the ins and outs of shame, fear, anger, sadness, jealousy, and happiness. Whether you're a skeptical stoic or an impulsive feeler, pursuing a healthy relationship with your emotions is key to living a passionate and abundant life. After all, it's ultimately about becoming a little more like the person God created you to be.

Genres: Nonfiction, Counselling

257 pages, Paperback

Published September 11, 2019

Reviews

[Austin Spence · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good primer. Definitely still viewing emotions through a religious spirituality lens, which is fine. Think “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality,” type of vibe. I’ll be looking for a deeper, more psychological book on EQI next.

Also, they quoted J*hn Eldr*dge so how emotionally healthy can their feedback be? (It can still be healthy, it’s a joke)

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It is a simple but profound guide to understanding and responding well to emotions. The authors explain a number of core emotions from a psychological and biblical perspective, helping you to see what they are, how they can be good and positive (even negative emotions like anger and sadness), how they can go wrong, and how to handle them well. Insightful and practical, I wish I had read this sooner!

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the linear thinkers out there, emotions are data. Much like the mental characters of Disney's Inside Out, emotions are constantly at work, with the purpose of providing information about the world and my subjective experience of it. Far from being out-of-line or the constant inconvenience I used to insist they were, emotions tell you what you might otherwise be unaware of, and are designed to provide you with the resources you need to respond.

-See injustice and need to respond with action? Anger has you covered with a surge of energy and confidence.
-Are you unsafe and need to respond quickly, even faster than your rational mind is capable of? Fear to the rescue, to get you out of harm's way.
-Does something need to heal, and slowing down to thoughtfully and empathically consider the situation is exactly what you need? Let sadness sooth you into a state of quiet contemplation.

In a way, this book is a love letter to emotions. A fully-realized embrace of their worth. As a chronic emotion-suppressor, this book was not only healing, but helped my world make a hell of a lot more sense. My takeaway, then, is that I no longer have to boomerang between being frightened by emotions and being overwhelmed by them. Instead, I can fully embrace the entire spectrum of my experience, knowing that it's right to feel each jubilant elation and wretched sadness. And that ultimately, I'll be alright.