The Western Mindanao State University through the Center of Continuing Education (CCE), in coordination with the HRMO, has conceptualized a seminar on Emotional Wellness to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of emotional health, and learn practical strategies for improving their emotional well-being. The two-day seminar was conducted on June 22 and 23, 2023 at the AVR of the College of Engineering building and catered to two different batches of participants. The event was specially held for the benefit of the administration staff and was spearheaded by Mr. Bryan B. Marcial and Mr. Keynard L. Ponce, Assistant to the Director of CCE who served as emcees separately. The opening remarks were given by Dr. Claire A. Madrazo, the Director of the Center for Continuing Education who warmly welcomed the audience and explicitly provided the objectives of the day. She also highlighted the importance of emotional wellness and how individuals must deal with it to acquire harmony in the workplace. Following the opening remarks, Ms. Ma. Teresita J. Rodriguez, the Director for Administration, delivered her message and pointed out the saying of the renowned psychologist Lauren Fogel Mersy which states that “Being able to be your true self is one of the strongest components of good mental health.” With stress as the most common feeling that individuals feel due to their body’s reactions to demands and challenges, she mentioned the necessity to accept one’s emotions, acknowledge them, and choose how to manage and deal with them. Honesty and humility are the values emphasized in her speech and saying “no” does not define anyone because he has the freedom to say so without having the need to feel guilty.To further discuss and elaborate on the concept of emotional wellness, Dr. Fini Joy Buenafe, the University Guidance Director served as the seminar’s resource speaker. She stated that emotional wellness refers to one’s ability to regulate and manage one’s emotions effectively which leads to a more balanced and satisfying life. She also asked various questions in relation to the topic and elicited responses from the participants allowing them to share their experiences in the past and their present conditions. Dr. Buenafe emphasized the impact of thoughts on emotions, and she then introduced Susan David’s seven basic emotions – joy, sadness, surprise, fear, contentment, disgust, and anger and stressed that each of these emotions has its place in people’s lives. She also clearly explained the distinction between sadness and depression which individuals must not take lightly and as much as possible must avoid using them interchangeably. There is a need to experience and process one’s emotions fully to deeply recognize them and avoid the intensification of the negative feelings and getting consumed by them physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Dr. Buenafe also introduced emotional agility which refers to the process of identifying one’s emotions and utilizing them as information rather than changing them. Tendencies such as getting hooked by one’s feelings bring individuals towards developing repetitive and unproductive thought patterns. Hence, she encouraged the audience to incorporate adaptability in dealing with emotions and consider their goals and values for personal growth. In addition, two common approaches relating to dealing with negative emotions such as bottling and brooding were also discussed. Participants were provided with thought-provoking situations that required them to recall their emotions and identify which approach is associated with their choice of words and actions. In this way, they were able to reflect on themselves in terms of how they handled such emotions.
To conclude, emotional wellness is an integral part of a person’s overall well-being. Those who struggle with emotional wellness lead individuals to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. However, the ability to accept one’s emotions and take it as information will facilitate an individual to cope with stress, build positive relationships, and achieve other personal goals. Given the safe space in the institution, this initiative paved the way for the administration staff to freely express or share their thoughts and learn from one another. The conduct of the open forum allowed the participants to be heard without judgment and prejudice. It helps in creating a sense of community among individuals and reducing the feeling of isolation and loneliness. Finally, the seminar was ended by Mr. Keynard L. Ponce who delivered the closing remarks and expressed his gratitude on behalf of the organizers, and highlighted the key points of the given discourse reiterating that emotional wellness is crucial for the employees to successfully perform their functions individually and as part of a team, and foster strong rapport with various clients and customers.