PSC 10 – Identifying emotions and stress
Because what you don’t name… rules you.
You feel tense — you sense it. But is it irritation? Anxiety? Fatigue? You say you’re stressed, but in reality… you haven’t put precise words on what you feel.
And that’s exactly what PSC 10 – Identifying emotions and stress – is about: learning to use accurate words for your inner state. Not to “dramatize,” but to act more effectively.
Why it’s a key skill
An emotion isn’t just a passing feeling. It’s a message from the body and brain. As long as you don’t name it, you risk reacting instead of responding.
A leader who doesn’t identify their stress will confuse fatigue with demotivation. A manager who ignores frustration will take it out on their team. A professional who accumulates tension without naming it will eventually explode — or collapse.
Identifying what you feel means taking back control. It’s moving from confusion to clarity.
How do you do it?
Start by stepping out of the fog. Stress doesn’t have a single cause or form. Emotions live in the body, show up in thoughts, and influence decisions.
👉 Regularly ask yourself these three questions:
- What am I feeling right now?
- Where do I feel it in my body?
- Is this feeling an emotion or a deeper alert signal?
If you can, use an emotion log or a short daily journal. Over time, you’ll start to recognize patterns — and train yourself to manage them.
Why it’s strategic for leaders
Want to keep a cool head? Start by recognizing when it’s heating up. Want to act fairly? Learn to spot when you’re shaken. Want to create emotional calm around you? Start by cultivating it within yourself.
PSC 10 isn’t “doing psychology.” It’s training your emotional intelligence — and especially your ability to act with clarity.
🎯 Micro-action of the day: At every task or location change, take 20 seconds to note:
- Your energy level (0 to 10)
- Your main emotion (anger, fear, joy, sadness, etc.)
- One word describing your physical state (tense, relaxed, numb, etc.)
You’ll start noticing patterns — and learning to manage them.
Tomorrow we move on to PSC 11 – Expressing emotions positively. Because identifying them isn’t enough; you also need to express them without hurting others.
Best,
Krumma
