According to the Dalai Lama, “In order to find the new world we needed a map, and in order for us to find a calm mind we need a map of our emotions.” I can appreciate what the Dalai Lama is saying, I often have clients in my counseling office who only think and talk about their emotions at a very high level, such as “sad.” But when we take the time to explore that feeling of being sad, clients uncover that what they’re actually feeling is lonely, or bored, or worried about something, and with that greater specificity we can come up with a much more targeted treatment.
The Atlas of Emotions is an online tool commissioned by the Dalai Lama that allows you to explore your emotions in a more specific and constructive way. To use the Atlas of Emotion, you first select one of six basic emotions: anger, fear, disgust, sadness, or enjoyment. Once you’ve selected an emotion, the atlas guides you through a deeper understanding of what it feels like, what triggers it, and how to cope with it.
I found this tool to be both interesting and helpful. It’s always useful to have a greater understanding of our emotions and how they work. I would encourage you to check out the Atlas of Emotion for yourself and see what you think!
