“Name it to tame it,” a concept introduced by Dr. Daniel Siegel, UCLA psychiatrist and clinical professor of psychology, captures a critical self-regulation skill. When emotion floods the body, the emotional brain takes over as its priority is protection: fight, flight, or freeze. In that moment, the thinking brain goes offline, consciously naming what you are feeling, you activate the prefrontal cortex and reduce activity in the amygdala. This neurological shift creates space between you and the emotion.
Saying, “I notice my anger is rising,” or “I feel overwhelmed right now,” is not self-indulgence. It is regulation. Labeling emotion helps the brain move from reaction to awareness. A useful metaphor is this: you are not the storm, you are the person watching the storm. The emotion may be intense, but it does not define you or control you unless you become submerged in it. The real skill lies in noticing your internal state early, before the emotion takes over and dictates behaviour. Self-awareness is not passive. It is an active leadership capability.