Holistic Coaching for Self-Leadership: How Are You Really?

How are you today?

We’ve all been asked: “How are you?”And often, we answer on autopilot: “Fine.” or “Stressed.” But here’s the truth — “fine” and “stressed” don’t even scratch the surface.

If your emotional vocabulary is limited, your self-awareness and resilience tools are limited too.

Research shows that most people can name fewer than 10 emotions. Yet, according to Brené Brown’s research, we experience at least 87 different emotions and feelings.

Psychologist Robert Plutchik even mapped emotions on his famous Wheel of Emotions — showing how core feelings like anger, joy, sadness, and fear expand into nuanced states like annoyance, serenity, pensiveness, or awe.

The problem? Without naming emotions, we can’t process them. And without processing, stress gets stuck in the body, showing up as tension, exhaustion, or even burnout.

You’re not alone.

Most of us weren’t taught an emotional language in school or work.

Think about it: we learn math, grammar, and job skills… but not how to say “I feel vulnerable, not just bad” or “I feel anticipation, not just nervous.”

Expanding your emotional vocabulary isn’t about being “soft.” It’s about self-leadership, resilience, and holistic well-being. When you can name it, you can tame it.

Holistic Coaching for Self-Leadership: How Are You Really? the good news:

• You can expand your emotional vocabulary step by step.

• You can use tools like Plutchik’s Wheel and Brené Brown’s 87 emotions list.

• You can practice with journaling, coaching conversations, or simply asking yourself: “What exactly am I feeling right now?”

  
  

Building this emotional muscle helps you:

• Recognize stress earlier in your body.

• Choose healthier responses.

• Lead yourself (and others) with clarity and empathy.

This is the heart of holistic coaching: strategy for the mind, practices for the body, and language for the soul.

Want to explore this deeper? Start by saving Plutchik’s Wheel or Brené Brown’s list on your phone. Next time you say “I feel off” — pause, scan, and see what’s really there.

👉 In my workshops and coaching, we practice exactly this: turning vague stress into clear language, and clear language into resilience.

Curious? Let’s connect.