Our emotions are essential to our survival. Like breathing, we do not choose to feel our emotions – we automatically emote in response to the challenges and opportunities of life. While emotions are vital to our human existence, emotional reactions can become the source of interpersonal challenges in our lives. Often, these strong emotional reactions are triggered from far below the surface of conscious thought.

Automatic reaction is not our only option, however. We can learn to bring conscious awareness to our emotions, and train our minds to respond to difficult emotions in constructive ways. Even our pleasant emotions can be enhanced by conscious awareness. We can savor the good and feel appreciation, rather than grasp for joy.

In developing emotional awareness, we can increase our ability to hold the full range of our human experience with compassion and curiosity.  

Throughout this experiential workshop, we will offer the foundational science and practice of emotional awareness, woven together with an experience of heart-opening and interactive contemplative art. We will draw from the evidence-based Cultivating Emotional Balance training, which integrates the wisdom traditions of modern psychology, emotion research, and ancient contemplative practices as a path for transformation.

Each session will balance learning, being, and connecting. Within our sweet container, we will explore:

• Teachings on the scientific and contemplative foundations of emotional awareness.
• Being with guided meditations and reflective practices to develop mindful awareness and compassion for our patterns and habits, while connecting to inner sources of joy and appreciation.
• Connective practices, including discussion and small group work, to investigate the roots of our emotions through the mapping of our emotional episodes.

As we map our emotions, we may uncover the stories underlying our triggers, perceptions, and responses. These stories are often humblingly familiar. In their sharing, it is possible to understand and feel the interconnection of emotions, interconnection with each other, and forge new narratives to make meaning with our emotional lives.

Join us for this weekend of transformative exploration and practice.