Sunday, July 07, 2019

Emotional Literacy is all about us learning to read signals.





• A Volcano / A Pickaxe / A Hammer / A Nail
• Emotional Literacy
• Reflections on offer
• Behaviour Management

Dictionary::
literacy 
|ˈlitərəsē; ˈlitrə-|
noun
the ability to read and write.

Emotional Literacy is all about reading signals. 
Feelings are signals. 
They surge through us every mili-second when we are awake. 
Even when we sleep.

Feelings are signals. 
It is the big ones that matter.
The ugly ones really matter.

Unless humans reach some competency in managing feelings 
they will be controlled.
Control is bad. 
Like a capped volcano - they will eventually erupt.

In 1979 I conducted my first study of Youth Gangs. 
It was a DEPRIVATION study.
I looked at all deprivations as supplied by government.
I focused on the number one issue. 
The aspect of their lives which was most difficult for them. 
My study conclusion was the worst deprivation is
(not on the government list) =  'Emotional Deprivation’. 
Numbing emotions to survive.

I call it toothache because ........
What do you think about when you have toothache .......... ?

We now understand this as 'Emotional Literacy' - 
an ability in understanding and managing emotions.

These young humans lived with violence. 
They exploded, erupted, lashed out and received in return.

One day a teenager came into the Club swinging a builder's pick axe.
He chased another young man around the pool table with myself in-between the two - 
I will never forget it!

Later on that same evening they were playing football together in the sports hall.

The volcano had erupted. 
Then behaviour returned to normal.
Capped emotions, awaiting the next rumble from within.

We can learn how to manage our emotions.

It is possible to become more aware.
It is possible to become more skilful.

"If we only have a Hammer
We see everything as a Nail."

In the weeks and months ahead
I will share a few stories with you on here.
I will share experiences with you.
I will share tools for the toolbox with you.

You will be able to take them and transpose them into your own life and work - 
because signals rise within us in every aspect of our existence.

In our Toolboxes we need more than a Hammer.

BHP

www.pipwilson.com


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