Sometimes there are no words to capture an emotion. I find the challenge of creating just the right expression for how I am feeling incredibly helpful and fun. I check in with my feelings often that way. When I need to, I find the expression that reflects how I want to feel and look at it. It helps me shift. It empowers me to shift.

It is a way of decoding the emotions of those around us. By mimicking the facial expressions of others, we feel what they feel. We do this subtly and automatically in a fraction of a second. We could call it empathy training and, of course, empathy is a critical part of developing social and emotional intelligence.

1. Make a face. See if that matches what you are feeling.
2. Think of an emotion. Create the appropriate face as you flip through the options.
3. Try to physically make the face you are seeing and notice how it feels in your body.

Bonus: Make a game of it. Everyone playing will need their own app. Choose an emotion and race to see what combinations emerge. Compare, discuss, and possibly pick a winner. ENJOY!