Metamood is a term used by psychologists to refer to an individual’s awareness of their emotions. It can be described as being caught up in any emotion and then becoming aware that you are being swept away by it.
Summary by The World of Work Project
Metamood
Metamood is the name given to the process of being aware of your emotions and how they are affecting you. It’s a specific form of self-awareness focused on emotions and feelings and the impact they have on individuals.
The ability to step beyond your emotions (meta means beyond) and think about them abstractly, no longer in their thrall, is a hugely helpful tool individuals can use when they are in complex and emotional situations.
By becoming aware of the emotions you are feeling and the impacts they are having on you, it’s possible to observe a situation more dispassionately and take actions and make decisions that may lead to better outcomes in the longer term.
Put simply, awareness of you emotions, their signs and the impacts they have on you makes it easier to manage them, overcome them if necessary and make more rational, helpful decisions.
Learning More
Self-awareness is very important for both personal development and for leading and managing others in the world of work. Metacognition and emotional intelligence are two addition aspects of development worth pursuing, as is social pain. The concept of emotional labor might also be of interest.
You might enjoy this podcast which covers our thoughts on personal development:
The World of Work Project View
Developing an awareness of your emotions is hugely important. The ability to recognize the onset of a particular emotion and how it affects you is the first step in the process of being able to manage your emotions. And managing your emotions effectively and healthily is an already essential and increasingly important skill in the world of work.
To be honest, the more we work with leaders and individuals in the workplace, the more we think this skill might be one of the most important skills you can learn. Gaining separation from our thoughts and feelings make it easier to take the most helpful action in any situation, and it also helps to boost our wellbeing. What’s not to love.
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Sources and Feedback
This post is based on general reading and there are no specific references for it.
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