We are taught so much in school- math, science, reading. But one thing we are not educated on is emotions. So many of us cannot identify or access our emotions, are afraid to feel emotions, or are unable to express emotions constructively. This has such a limiting effect on our lives and relationships.

The Language of Emotions is a manual for emotional literacy. It teaches the meaning and purpose of emotions- they are messages containing vital information about our inner states and external circumstances. And they are neutral- no emotion is good or bad. Taken in this context, you can see there is nothing to fear.

My thanks to NetGalley, Sounds True Publishing and Karla McLaren for the opportunity to read and review this book.

"The Language of Emotions" by Karla McLaren stands out as a groundbreaking and insightful exploration into the often misunderstood world of our emotional landscape. McLaren, with remarkable clarity and depth, invites readers to view their emotions not as obstacles to be overcome, but as powerful guides capable of leading them towards a deeper understanding of themselves and their interactions with the world.

McLaren's approach to emotions is revolutionary. She posits that every emotion carries a specific message and purpose, serving as an essential tool for personal growth, communication, and healing. By decoding what our emotions are trying to tell us, McLaren provides a framework for engaging with them in a healthy and productive manner. This perspective is not only refreshing but deeply empowering, offering readers a new lens through which to view their inner lives.

What makes "The Language of Emotions" particularly compelling is McLaren’s ability to synthesize complex psychological concepts into accessible and relatable insights. Her writing is both engaging and compassionate, making readers feel understood and supported as they navigate the often turbulent waters of their emotional worlds. McLaren uses examples that resonate with a wide audience, ensuring that her teachings are applicable to a variety of life experiences and challenges.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its practicality. Beyond offering a rich theoretical understanding of emotions, McLaren equips readers with concrete tools and strategies for emotional health. From managing anxiety and anger to fostering empathy and joy, her techniques are both effective and grounded in real-world applicability. These practices encourage readers to cultivate a more harmonious relationship with their emotions, leading to greater well-being and resilience.

"The Language of Emotions" is also a testament to McLaren’s deep empathy and respect for the complexity of human experience. She acknowledges the uniqueness of each individual’s emotional journey and offers guidance that is flexible and adaptable to different needs. This inclusive approach ensures that readers from all walks of life can find value and solace in her words.

Moreover, McLaren's work is a call to action for a more emotionally aware society. She underscores the importance of emotional intelligence in building healthier relationships, communities, and cultures. By advocating for a world where emotions are respected and understood, McLaren contributes to a broader movement towards emotional wellness and collective healing.

In conclusion, Karla McLaren's "The Language of Emotions" is a transformative and invaluable resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of themselves and navigate their emotional world with grace. It is not only a book about emotions; it is a guide to living a more conscious, connected, and fulfilling life. McLaren’s wisdom and compassion make this book a beacon of light for those seeking to embrace the full spectrum of their emotional experience.

This book changed the way I look at fear, anger, and sadness. Even though they bring discomfort, they carry a hidden message that we need to understand.

Managing them, which is crucial for our health, is like managing a campfire. It can be warm and comforting, giving you light and heat. But if left unchecked, it could turn into a raging fire that causes harm and danger.

To unravel the message of different emotions, Karla McLaren wrote The Language of Emotions to explain what they are, what their families are, and how to work with them. She shares her own experiences that brought her intense emotions and exposed the effects of other strategies in dealing with them.

The book goes beyond categorizing feelings into good or bad, positive or negative, or honored or dishonored.

If you want to understand your emotions and know how to handle them well, this book is for you.

Thank you Karla MacLean, Sounds True, and NetGalley for the ARC and the chance to share my honest thoughts about this book.

I have mixed feelings about this book which is in no way a bad thing and should not discourage anyone from picking it up. It's clear that the author possess an enthusiasm for encouraging people to work with their emotions that I greatly admired. I think the main difficulty that alienated me from the book was the use of "empath" related concepts. I find myself not quite simpatico with that language and as such, it was a bit of a spanner in the works for me.

I think that if the title and topic area intrigues, then there's no reason why my opinion should stop you from giving it a read.

A guide to understanding your emotions, as well as a better perception of others emotions. For me, this was not a book to sit down and read cover to cover but more to scan over time. There are parts that I can relate to and others sections more suited to other individuals. There is a lot of valuable information and definitely a book I will reference in the future.

"The Language of Emotions is an encyclopedia of knowledge when it comes to explain emotions, what they are, and how to understand them. This will be a resource that I will be returning to frequently to understand my inner self and the emotions I feel often.

In this revised edition of The Language of Emotions, first published in 2010, Karla McLaren suggests that our emotions are a family of messengers and a source of energy and intelligence, each with special gifts to support us. I found her unique perspective on how to identify and work with emotions very interesting. I don’t agree with all of her ideas, but they have certainly given me a lot to think about and experiment with.

I really liked this book’s focus on the ways each of our emotions can help us, how to work with them when they get stuck, and how to honor them in others. I also liked the discussion of trauma as initiation, and how working with our emotions can help us integrate and heal from trauma. However, while I liked the ideas presented here, I struggled with the excessively wordy and repetitious presentation. I found reading the book a bit of a slog. It was worth sticking with it though, because I do think the author’s suggestions will help me develop a more effective relationship with my emotions.

The book includes an appendix with an emotional vocabulary list, notes for each chapter, and recommended resources. There is also an index, although it was not available in the ARC I reviewed.

I recommend this to anyone who is interested in understanding and working with emotions or would like a new perspective on healing trauma.

I was provided an unproofed ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.

I’m not sure how/what to say about this book other then I should have read it sooner. I have bookmarked multiple sections to go back to - probably on a regular.
Karla McLaren really did an incredible thing by writing this and giving it to the world to read.
You never really understand how important your own & other peoples emotions really are until this - a total eye opening in all of the best ways. I cannot recommend this enough!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc. This is a thorough and technically exploration of emotions so is not an easy read but it was fascinating and engaging,

I was interested in reading this book because the self-help genre has intrigued me for several years. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into this one. I was bored at the beginning and started skimming, hoping to find something that would catch my attention. Nothing did. I’m sure other people will enjoy this book, but it didn’t work for me.

The Language of Emotions : What Your Feelings Are Trying to Tell You is a book about learning the language of our emotions and using them as a tool to enhance and guide our lives. The book is extremely interesting and a big eye opener. It will change the way you see and feel your emotions totally. Instead of trying to change them and cover them up you will be curious as to what they are trying to tell you and how you can use them to improve what is going on in your life. It is a good read although I did feel a bit overwhelmed by the amount and depth of the information at times. A well researched book that everyone will benefit from reading.

Firstly, I can see how some readers of The Language of Emotions might criticise it for being "unnecessarily long", or not understand the point of the book, or wonder "does anyone really need a book about emotions?" and so rate it lower than it deserves. I'm a survivor of extreme childhood trauma, living with C-PTSD, and I think this book was written for readers like me, who have been deeply traumatised and literally need to be walked through the names of different emotions, which larger 'family' they correspond to, the messages they're bringing, and how to work with them and work through them. I really feel like I wish I could have learnt about this in school, or in my family, or at any other point in my life. This is the kind of book I can read quickly, recognise the learnings will take some re-reads and some patience to integrate, and then use the book as a reference guide in the future. I can see myself dipping in and out of this book for many years, and working with it practically whenever necessary. I am grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to access an ARC. I would recommend the book to anyone who would like a supportive guiding hand as they try to learn how to heal and work through recovery.

This book had a lot of interesting and educational facts, and it really helped me. Gonna start doing things differently!

This was a powerful book! It never makes you feel bad about any emotion! The stories along the way added to the books powerful ness. This book has great tips on how to process and express feelings! Very helpful and insightful!