Pinar Reyhan Ozyigit | Let's Connect on LinkedIn
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In the soft hours of early morning, before the world demands our attention, there lies a moment of stillness. It’s in these precious moments that many working women find themselves caught between the gentle whispers of their emotions and the loud demands of the day ahead. These dawn moments often hold the key to our emotional equilibrium, like the first notes of a daily symphony we compose.
The Quiet Weight We Carry
Think of emotions as gentle raindrops on a window pane, each one leaving its mark, creating patterns that tell stories of our days. Through years of observation and experience in professional settings, we’ve come to understand that sometimes we carry an additional weight of emotional labor. These emotions flow like underground streams, hidden beneath the surface of professional composure yet shaping the landscape of our experiences.
The Science of Awareness
Imagine standing by a clear forest stream, watching the water flow over smooth stones. This is what emotional awareness feels like, a gentle observation of what moves within us.
Recent neuroscience research by Craig (2009) reveals that our emotional awareness is deeply rooted in the insula, a brain region that helps us perceive our internal states. This biological foundation of self-awareness explains why mindful attention to our emotions can feel like turning a gentle spotlight inward, illuminating our inner landscape with clarity and purpose.
This scientific understanding aligns beautifully with ancient wisdom traditions. The anterior insula, which Craig’s research identified as the neural basis for human awareness, becomes more active when we practice mindful attention, validating what contemplative traditions have long taught about the power of present, moment awareness. Drawing from both this scientific knowledge and personal experience, I’ve observed how this awareness mirrors the practice of forest bathing in Japanese culture, where simply being present in nature becomes a profound act of self-connection.
Wisdom Across Cultures
Like watching clouds drift across the sky, emotional awareness begins with simple observation. In my journey exploring different cultural approaches to emotional wisdom, I’ve found profound insights in various traditions.
The East Asian concept of “yuan” teaches us the art of deep seeing, not just with our eyes, but with our whole being.
The Indigenous Australian practices of leadership remind us that these micro-moments of awareness can transform how we make decisions and lead teams.
African Ubuntu philosophy offers us a powerful perspective: our emotions are not solely individual experiences but are interconnected with our community.
In traditional African workplaces, emotional awareness was never separated from community awareness, it is a wisdom that feels particularly relevant in today’s interconnected work environment.
Creating Spaces of Stillness
Through exploring various cultural traditions, I’ve discovered beautiful practices that can create sanctuaries of awareness in our busy days.
Japanese working women practice “kuuki wo yomu” which means “reading the air”, it is a subtle art of emotional attunement that helps navigate workplace dynamics.
From India comes the practice of “antarmauna” or inner silence, which I’ve seen transform how professional women approach their daily routines.
Consider these culturally-inspired moments of pause:
- A moment of quiet before opening your laptop, embracing the Chinese tradition of “jing” which mean stillness.
- A deep breath between meetings, inspired by the yogic practice of “pranayama”
- A gentle check-in while waiting for your coffee to brew, incorporating the Mexican concept of “pausar, taking time to feel before doing.
- A moment of pause and reflection, drawing from the Vietnamese tradition of mindful connection.
The Ripples of Understanding
When we nurture emotional awareness, its effects spread like gentle ripples across a pond. Through observing and participating in various workplace dynamics, I’ve noticed how emotionally aware and passionate leaders create more innovative and supportive work environments. Teams led with emotional awareness often demonstrate:
- Higher engagement and motivation.
- More meaningful collaborative experiences.
- Deeper trust in leadership decisions.
- Stronger resilience during challenging periods.
Embracing the Ebb and Flow
Just as nature moves through seasons, our emotional landscape shifts and changes. I’ve come to understand that this cyclical nature of our feelings isn’t a weakness but a source of strength. Some days bring storms of stress, others carry sunshine of success. The art lies not in controlling these weather patterns, but in learning to dance with them.
The Wisdom of Rest
While many Western workplaces celebrate constant motion, my exploration of diverse cultural traditions has revealed richer perspectives on rest.
The Swedish concept of “lagom” teaches us about finding the right balance, while the Korean tradition of Shimjung, “affairs of the heart-mind” reminds us that emotional wellbeing requires regular restoration.
Indigenous cultures worldwide offer profound wisdom about rest and renewal. The Australian Aboriginal practice of “dadirri”, “deep, contemplative listening” and the Native American tradition of council circles show us how emotional awareness and rest are interconnected. In Māori tradition, rest isn’t just about physical pause, it’s about allowing our spiritual energy to replenish.
A Different Kind of Strength
Traditional narratives often paint strength in bold strokes of constant action and unwavering certainty. But through years of observation and personal experience, I’ve discovered there’s profound strength in gentleness, in the ability to hold space for our emotions without judgment. Emotionally aware women leaders often build more sustainable, high-performing teams while maintaining their own wellbeing. Because, emotional awareness is like following a winding path home to ourselves. Each step, each moment of recognition, brings us closer to authenticity. The journey to emotional awareness is like following a constellation of stars, each point of light leads us closer to our true north.
What to do?
As the day draws to a close, take a moment to sit with yourself. Like watching the sun set, observe how your emotions paint the sky of your inner world. Just sit, listen the silence, and be still. Remember that this practice of awareness isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence, about showing up for yourself with the same gentleness you offer others.
In this fast-moving and crazy world, emotional awareness becomes our anchor and our quiet companion. It reminds us that even as we navigate professional challenges and personal responsibilities, we can move through our days with grace, understanding, and deep connection to ourselves and others. This is not just a skill to master, but a way of being, a gentle, aware, and profoundly human.
References
Craig, A. D. (2009). How do you feel — now? The anterior insula and human awareness. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(1), 59-70. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2555
