How do you feel right now?
If your answer is along the lines of “cold“, “hungry“, or “itchy” – you are describing physical feelings which is easy to do. Expressing your internal feelings in words is not as easy, especially when we use the words emotions and feelings interchangeably.
🧑💻 More Than Just a Feeling
To decipher what emotions you are feeling and why starts with understanding emotions and feelings.
The Nature of Emotions
Emotions are physiological responses that have developed through evolutionary processes over millennia. They are hardwired to trigger particular responses to environmental stimuli.
Scientists can objectively measure emotions by tracking blood flow, neurological activity, facial expressions, and postural changes. The limbic system – your brain’s emotional processing centre – operates separately from your neocortex (the part of your brain handling conscious thoughts, reasoning, and decision-making). This separation explains why your emotions can sometimes appear illogical or irrational.
The Nature of Feelings
Feelings represent your mental interpretations of emotions. They are subjective, personal responses shaped by your experiences and learned associations.
While emotions emerge first as universal human experiences, the feelings they generate vary significantly between individuals and situations. Your unique temperament and life experiences heavily influence how you interpret and process emotional responses.
Practical Importance
Research demonstrates that accurately identifying your emotional states can actually diminish their intensity. This happens because the labelling process activates your rational mind, bringing your cognitive resources back into engagement with the emotional experience.
➡️ Next
Reflect on this lesson and download THIS guide to help you put into words your emotions and feelings.
Remember – naming an emotion begins the process of regulating it!