In this episode, I explore Chapter 3 of my book, Yucky, Yummy, Savory, Sweet: Understanding the Flavors of Emotions, where we dive into interoception—a crucial but often overlooked sensory system that helps us connect with our body’s emotional signals.
Emotions are how we connect with the world and interception is how we sync our body with awareness of our feelings. Understanding interoception can transform how we recognize and respond to our feelings.
I discuss the importance of connecting with bodily signals for emotional regulation and how this applies not just to the neurodivergent community but to all of us. I cover the concept of alexithymia, a condition where individuals struggle to identify and describe their emotions, and why emotional granularity is key to emotional intelligence. I also discuss my personal journey in discovering this system and the personal benefits I experience because of my understanding of this essential connection between our mind and body.
Emotions are how we connect with the world and interception is how we sync our body with awareness.
Key Points:
•Interoception: The sensory system that helps us connect to our body’s emotions.
•Emotional Granularity: Why being able to distinguish specific emotions can improve emotional intelligence.
•Alexithymia: What it means to struggle with recognizing emotions and how interoceptive training can help.
•Personal Reflections: I share my own experiences with emotional challenges and how understanding my body’s signals has helped me.
•Practical Exercises: Tips on how to become more aware of your body’s signals and build emotional granularity.
Connect with me:
Website: https://www.kimkorte.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekimkorte/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thekimkorte/
Purchase her book on Amazon
Visit FlavorsofEmotions.com for more information and to leave feedback or topic suggestions.
Thank you so much for listening to my show!
00:00 - Personal Journey and Emotional Healing
00:00 - Introduction to Emotional Confusion
01:45 - Exploring Interoception and its role in emotional awareness
06:31 - Understanding Alexithymia and its impact on emotional recognition
08:21 - Personal Journey and Emotional Healing
09:47 - Homeostatic vs. Affective Emotions: The two types of emotional experiences
12:02 - Emotional Granularity and Anger: Breaking down broad emotions
12:33 - Exploring Emotional Granularity: How specificity aids emotional intelligence
13:23 - The Bagel Analogy for Emotions: Finding your emotional ‘flavor’
14:10 - Connecting to Our Emotions for better self-understanding
14:48 - The Importance of Emotional Awareness in daily life
15:19 - Practical Exercises for Building Emotional Awareness
16:08 - Listening to Your Body’s Signals as a guide for emotional health
18:03 - Questioning and Understanding Emotions with curiosity and openness
19:04 - Upcoming Topics and Community Engagement, including plans for a January community site launch
20:51 - Navigating Emotional Times: Finding calm in a turbulent political landscape
22:38 - Finding Common Ground and building connection
23:58 - The Value of Expanding Beliefs to foster growth and understanding
25:12 - Final Thoughts and Encouragement for listeners to stay open-minded and self-aware