Part 1. Why act? The role of our emotions

A series of thoughts after participating in The Week by Frédéric Laloux and Hélène Gerin.

When confronted with our future, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by our emotions.

We are sad for the innocence we’ve lost… Guilty for our part in the suffering of others… Angry at the inaction of the powerful… Discouraged by the path ahead… Despaired that we won’t make it in time… Frustrated with our friends and ourselves for our imperfections…. Exhausted from trying so hard to be better yet never feeling “good enough”… Faced with this, and the mountain of other things that fill our lives, it can be tempting to give up. To hide our head in the sand and live as though we didn’t know. But then, often, the pesky little voice inside our heads takes over and reminds us that, in fact, we do know. So, we once again get back up, take a deep breath, and give it our all, trying to make a difference.

Harnessing emotions for positive action

We’ve all gone through these steps repeatedly and, at Slo, we’re no exception to the rule. Yet, we believe that while it’s important to recognise our emotions, they should not become barriers to change. Quite the opposite: although not always pleasant, emotions can be excellent drivers of action.

• Sadness can encourage you to reach out to others for comfort. Being connected and supported is an essential part of human existence. By unburdening your load, you strengthen those connections and may even trigger others to join you in action.

• Anger can be a vitalising emotion. It helps us draw the line at what we are not willing to accept. As a result, it often kicks us into action by giving us the strength to push back against the status quo.

• Exhaustion is a signal that we’re stretched thin and need to step back. It might be time to reflect on who we are, what truly matters to us, and what drives us. Recollect our strengths by finding joy back into our lives, reorganising our agendas a little bit, or even giving our lives a whole new direction can help restore our energy.

• Hope gives us something to fight for. It’s our vision of a better future that may guide our decisions, ensuring every step we take brings us a bit closer to our goal. It’s an inspiring emotion, so don’t hesitate to share it with those around you.

Emotions are responses to what we may perceive as a threat or opportunity and, as such, are strong signals of what we are experiencing. Recognising them can help us reconnect with who we truly are. Acting in accordance with them can help us find the peace that comes with congruence.

At Slo, we therefore encourage you to regularly take time to check in with yourself, understand what drives you, and reflect on how you are feeling about the life you live.

Written by Flore Andersen, Co-founder Edited by Géraldine Wirtz, Co-founder