ABSTRACT
Emotions are a powerful experience for humans and can sometimes feel overwhelming. We explore the role and function of human emotion and how eliminating emotions is not a realistic goal, but is often sought after. We explore strategies for coping with emotions in an adaptive manner, with a focus on the emotional regulation skills, including skills taught in contextual psychotherapy systems such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Emotion Regulation Therapy, and Emotion Efficacy Therapy. We also discuss the importance of gratitude and forgiveness in regulating emotions. Stories of individuals' emotional regulation experiences are included along with effective emotional regulation exercises to use for yourself and share with others!
