essay for feelings

Essays About Emotions: Top 6 Examples and Prompts

We all experience a vast range of emotions; read on to see our top examples of essays about emotions, and thought-provoking writing prompts.

Human beings use their emotions as an internal compass. They guide us through tough challenges and help create memorable moments that build relationships and communities. They give us strength that’s incomparable to intellect. They are powerful enough to drive our survival, bring down invincible-seeming tyrants, and even shape the future.

If you want to express your emotions through writing, creating an essay is a perfect way to materialize your thoughts and feelings. Read on for the best essay examples and help with your next essay about emotions.

1. Managing Emotions by Charlotte Nelson

2. how to deal with your emotions effectively by jayaram v, 3. music affects mood by delores goodwin, 4. emotions, stress, and ways to cope with them by anonymous on ivypanda, 5. essay on emotions: definition, characteristics, and importance by reshma s, 6. the most powerful emotion in marketing may surprise you by oliver yonchev, 9 writing prompts on essays about emotions to write about, 1. what are positive and negative emotions, 2. how to control and manage emotions for emotional people, 3. why it can benefit you to hide your emotions, 4. the power of emotional connection between siblings, 5. emotions make music, and music drives emotions, 6. psychopathic individuals and their emotions, 7. emotions expressed in art, 8. dance: physical expression of emotion, 9. lessons to learn from highly emotional scenes on screen.

“Emotions. They not just leave an impact on the organizations but on the organizational structure as well, and it is vital for leaders in the organization to deal with it.”

Nelson’s essay focuses on how emotions can be harmful if not managed properly. She also differentiates moods from emotions and the proper and improper emotional management methods.

“They are essential for your survival and serve a definite purpose in your life by giving you advance warning signals and alerting you to different situations.”  

Our feelings are important, and this essay points out that negative emotions aren’t always a bad thing. The important thing is we learn how to cope with them appropriately.

“So we just listen and close our eyes, and it is our song for three minutes because the singers understand.”

Goodwin’s essay explores how we feel various moods or emotions from listening to different genres of music. For example, she writes about how rock masks pain and releases daily tensions, how classical music encourages babies’ development, etc.

“Emotions play a unique role in the experiences and health outcomes of all people. A proper understanding of how to cope with emotions and stress can empower more individuals to record positive health outcomes.”

This essay incorporates stress into the topic of emotions and how to manage it. It’s no surprise that people can feel stress as a strong emotion. The essay explores the various methods of managing the two things and promoting health.

“Emotions can be understood as some sort of feelings or affective experiences which are characterized by some physiological changes that generally lead them to perform some of the other types of behavioral acts.”

Reshma uses a scientific approach to define emotion, the types of emotions, and how it works. The essay provides the characteristics of emotions, like being feeling being the core of emotion. It also included the importance of emotions and theories around them.

“The emotional part of the brain processes information five times more quickly than the rational part, which is why tapping into people’s emotions is so powerful.”

Instead of discussing emotions only, Yonchev uses his essay to write about the emotions used in marketing tactics. He focuses on how brands use powerful emotions like happiness and fear in their marketing strategies. A great example is Coca-Cola’s iconic use of marketing happiness, giving the brand a positive emotional connection to consumers.

You’ve read various essays about emotions. Now, it’s your turn to write about them. Here are essay ideas and prompts to help you find a specific track to write about.

Work out the definition of positive and negative emotions. Use this essay to provide examples of both types of emotions. For example, joy is a positive emotion, while irritation is negative. Read about emotions to back up your writing.

Depending on the scenario, many people are very open with their emotions and are quite emotional. The workplace is an example of a place where it’s better to put your emotions aside. Write an essay if you want to explore the best ways to handle your emotions during stressful moments.

You need to know when to hide your emotions, like in a poker game. Even if you don’t play poker, controlling or hiding your emotions provides some advantages. Keeping emotional reactions to yourself can help you remain professional in certain situations. Emotional reactions can also overwhelm you and keep you from thinking of a solution on the fly.

Close-knit families have powerful emotional connections to one another. Siblings have an incredibly unique relationship. You can think back to your experiences with your siblings and discuss how your relationship has driven you to be more emotionally open or distant from them.

Create a narrative essay to share your best memory with your siblings.

There’s a reason so many songs revolve around the “love at first sight” idea. A powerful emotion is something like giddiness from meeting someone for the first time and feeling love-struck by their behavior. Grief, anger, and betrayal are emotions that drive artists to create emotionally charged songs.

Some people have a misbelief that psychopaths don’t have emotions. If you’re diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) , the true definition of a psychopath in psychiatry, this is a perfect essay prompt. You can also use this if you’re studying psychology or have a keen interest in psychopathic behaviors or people around you.

Like music, art also has a deep link to emotions. People who see art have subjective reactions to it. If you’ve been given a piece of art to react to, consider writing an essay to express how you perceive and understand the piece, whether it’s a 2D abstract painting or a 3D wire sculpture.

A widely appreciated branch of art is dance. Contemporary dance is a popular way of expressing emotion today, but other types of dance are also great options. Whether classical ballroom, group hip hop, or ballet, your choice will depend on the type of dance you enjoy watching or doing. If you’re more physical or prefer watching dance, you may enjoy writing about emotional expression through dance instead of writing about art.

Do you have a favorite scene from a film or TV show? Use this essay topic to discuss your favorite scene and explain why you loved the emotional reactions of its characters. You can also compare them to a more realistic reaction.

Write a descriptive essay to describe your favorite scene before discussing the emotions involved.  

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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Understanding others’ feelings: what is empathy and why do we need it?

Senior Lecturer in Social Neuroscience, Monash University

Disclosure statement

Pascal Molenberghs receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC Discovery Early Career Research Award: DE130100120) and Heart Foundation (Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship: 1000458).

Monash University provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU.

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This is the introductory essay in our series on understanding others’ feelings. In it we will examine empathy, including what it is, whether our doctors need more of it, and when too much may not be a good thing.

Empathy is the ability to share and understand the emotions of others. It is a construct of multiple components, each of which is associated with its own brain network . There are three ways of looking at empathy.

First there is affective empathy. This is the ability to share the emotions of others. People who score high on affective empathy are those who, for example, show a strong visceral reaction when watching a scary movie.

They feel scared or feel others’ pain strongly within themselves when seeing others scared or in pain.

Cognitive empathy, on the other hand, is the ability to understand the emotions of others. A good example is the psychologist who understands the emotions of the client in a rational way, but does not necessarily share the emotions of the client in a visceral sense.

Finally, there’s emotional regulation. This refers to the ability to regulate one’s emotions. For example, surgeons need to control their emotions when operating on a patient.

Another way to understand empathy is to distinguish it from other related constructs. For example, empathy involves self-awareness , as well as distinction between the self and the other. In that sense it is different from mimicry, or imitation.

Many animals might show signs of mimicry or emotional contagion to another animal in pain. But without some level of self-awareness, and distinction between the self and the other, it is not empathy in a strict sense. Empathy is also different from sympathy, which involves feeling concern for the suffering of another person and a desire to help.

That said, empathy is not a unique human experience. It has been observed in many non-human primates and even rats .

People often say psychopaths lack empathy but this is not always the case. In fact, psychopathy is enabled by good cognitive empathic abilities - you need to understand what your victim is feeling when you are torturing them. What psychopaths typically lack is sympathy. They know the other person is suffering but they just don’t care.

Research has also shown those with psychopathic traits are often very good at regulating their emotions .

Why do we need it?

Empathy is important because it helps us understand how others are feeling so we can respond appropriately to the situation. It is typically associated with social behaviour and there is lots of research showing that greater empathy leads to more helping behaviour.

However, this is not always the case. Empathy can also inhibit social actions, or even lead to amoral behaviour . For example, someone who sees a car accident and is overwhelmed by emotions witnessing the victim in severe pain might be less likely to help that person.

Similarly, strong empathetic feelings for members of our own family or our own social or racial group might lead to hate or aggression towards those we perceive as a threat. Think about a mother or father protecting their baby or a nationalist protecting their country.

People who are good at reading others’ emotions, such as manipulators, fortune-tellers or psychics, might also use their excellent empathetic skills for their own benefit by deceiving others.

Interestingly, people with higher psychopathic traits typically show more utilitarian responses in moral dilemmas such as the footbridge problem. In this thought experiment, people have to decide whether to push a person off a bridge to stop a train about to kill five others laying on the track.

The psychopath would more often than not choose to push the person off the bridge. This is following the utilitarian philosophy that holds saving the life of five people by killing one person is a good thing. So one could argue those with psychopathic tendencies are more moral than normal people – who probably wouldn’t push the person off the bridge – as they are less influenced by emotions when making moral decisions.

How is empathy measured?

Empathy is often measured with self-report questionnaires such as the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) or Questionnaire for Cognitive and Affective Empathy (QCAE).

These typically ask people to indicate how much they agree with statements that measure different types of empathy.

The QCAE, for instance, has statements such as, “It affects me very much when one of my friends is upset”, which is a measure of affective empathy.

Cognitive empathy is determined by the QCAE by putting value on a statement such as, “I try to look at everybody’s side of a disagreement before I make a decision.”

Using the QCAE, we recently found people who score higher on affective empathy have more grey matter, which is a collection of different types of nerve cells, in an area of the brain called the anterior insula.

This area is often involved in regulating positive and negative emotions by integrating environmental stimulants – such as seeing a car accident - with visceral and automatic bodily sensations.

We also found people who score higher on cognitive empathy had more grey matter in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex.

This area is typically activated during more cognitive processes, such as Theory of Mind, which is the ability to attribute mental beliefs to yourself and another person. It also involves understanding that others have beliefs, desires, intentions, and perspectives different from one’s own.

Can empathy be selective?

Research shows we typically feel more empathy for members of our own group , such as those from our ethnic group. For example, one study scanned the brains of Chinese and Caucasian participants while they watched videos of members of their own ethnic group in pain. They also observed people from a different ethnic group in pain.

The researchers found that a brain area called the anterior cingulate cortex, which is often active when we see others in pain, was less active when participants saw members of ethnic groups different from their own in pain.

Other studies have found brain areas involved in empathy are less active when watching people in pain who act unfairly . We even see activation in brain areas involved in subjective pleasure , such as the ventral striatum, when watching a rival sport team fail.

Yet, we do not always feel less empathy for those who aren’t members of our own group. In our recent study , students had to give monetary rewards or painful electrical shocks to students from the same or a different university. We scanned their brain responses when this happened.

Brain areas involved in rewarding others were more active when people rewarded members of their own group, but areas involved in harming others were equally active for both groups.

These results correspond to observations in daily life. We generally feel happier if our own group members win something, but we’re unlikely to harm others just because they belong to a different group, culture or race. In general, ingroup bias is more about ingroup love rather than outgroup hate.

Yet in some situations, it could be helpful to feel less empathy for a particular group of people. For example, in war it might be beneficial to feel less empathy for people you are trying to kill, especially if they are also trying to harm you.

To investigate, we conducted another brain imaging study . We asked people to watch videos from a violent video game in which a person was shooting innocent civilians (unjustified violence) or enemy soldiers (justified violence).

While watching the videos, people had to pretend they were killing real people. We found the lateral orbitofrontal cortex, typically active when people harm others, was active when people shot innocent civilians. The more guilt participants felt about shooting civilians, the greater the response in this region.

However, the same area was not activated when people shot the soldier that was trying to kill them.

The results provide insight into how people regulate their emotions. They also show the brain mechanisms typically implicated when harming others become less active when the violence against a particular group is seen as justified.

This might provide future insights into how people become desensitised to violence or why some people feel more or less guilty about harming others.

Our empathetic brain has evolved to be highly adaptive to different types of situations. Having empathy is very useful as it often helps to understand others so we can help or deceive them, but sometimes we need to be able to switch off our empathetic feelings to protect our own lives, and those of others.

Tomorrow’s article will look at whether art can cultivate empathy.

• Theory of mind
• Emotional contagion
• Understanding others' feelings

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15 Emotion-Based Writing Prompts For Digging Deep

• Post author By Marisa Donnelly
• Post date May 8, 2018
• Categories In Creative , Writing Inspiration , Writing Resources
• 1 Comment on 15 Emotion-Based Writing Prompts For Digging Deep

It’s one thing to write efficiently, it’s entirely different to write effectively , but neither of those would be possible (for creative work) without writing emotionally. These fifteen emotional writing prompts will help you to dive into your feelings, challenge you to think deeply about some of the more personal topics in your life, and bridge the gap between your experiences and the characters on the page.

Prepare to be pushed into a more vulnerable realm of thinking and creating. 🙌💡

2. Write as if you’re seeing someone in your life for the very first time.

What do you notice about them? What are you drawn to? Now write from your current perspective of knowing and seeing them all your life. What do you appreciate/notice that differs from your first impressions? Can you highlight their uniqueness, their attributes that identifying them as who they are?

3. Write to, or about the last person you kissed.

You can do this one of two ways:

1) Write to that person first as if you were to give them this paragraph/piece as a letter. 2) Write about this person as if he/she is a character in a story. You can add yourself as a character, too, if you want to keep some distance from the story. You can also write in total third person, where both characters are written about more objectively.

4. Listen to an old song and write the emotions that come forth.

This can be a breakup song, love song, favorite song, childhood favorite song, etc. Whatever you choose, pay attention to the emotions you’re experiencing. Can you describe them? Can you describe without any characters at first? Then add characters, can you show how you/the character is feeling in listening instead of telling the reader?

5. Consider what you would change in your life, write a letter to your younger self based on those things.

Then, to challenge yourself, incorporate this letter into a monologue between characters (first, second, or third person).

6. Write a stranger’s story.

Find a place where you can (inconspicuously) people watch. Pick a stranger and write his/her story. Where did he/she come from? What’s his/her background, fears, present thoughts, love life? Embellish into a short story.

7. Make a ‘happy moments’ list and write a scene from one of those times.

Sometimes to get inspired we simply need to create or remember a situation. On a blank sheet of paper, create a list of favorite memories (aka: your ‘happy moments’ list). From that list, select one at random and write either your story of being at that place, a loved one’s perspective, or create a story with characters in the third person. Really describe the scene so that the reader can engage and picture where you are.

8. Write to or about your fears.

If you wrote a letter to your fear, what would you say? Can you incorporate these thoughts into the inner monologue of a character in a story? Into a poem? Etc.

9. Write a third person scene in which you are apologizing to someone in your life indirectly.

Sometimes we fall into first person habits because they’re easier. Challenge yourself to write about something present in your life (a person you’ve hurt) but in a way that creates distance between you and the characters. Have one character apologize to the other through your use of third person pronouns and setting up a scene. (Tip: Challenge yourself by switching the sex of the person apologizing to the opposite of you for even more distance between your emotions and what you’re putting on the page.)

10. Write a letter to your body.

Do some self-reflection. What are things you love, change, working on. Can you craft these introspective thoughts into a character? (Tip: Challenge yourself to do the reverse, too. If you’re very insecure about your legs, can you build a character who is super confident? Can you create an insecurity in a character that you don’t possess.

11. Write about a character with a secret.

12. Write about a conversation you’re longing to have.

What is something you wish you could say to someone? Create a scene in which you (or a character) is having this conversation. Use both dialogue and nonverbal cues as well as build the scene around the characters to make the moment more believable.

13. Write a poem about sorrow.

Incorporate vivid language, detail, and figurative language to create a mood rather than outright saying words like “sad,” “pain,” or “hurting.”

14. Write a love story that starts with a very strange opening line of dialogue.

15. Pick sides on a controversial topic and write from a character who strongly believes that side, or the opposing side.

Challenge yourself to create a believable character from either end of the spectrum. Provide the scene, situation, and background to make that character dynamic and interesting, even if the reader may not agree.

Featured Image Credit: Gabi Nehring

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Feelings and Emotions: The Essay, Part One

Part One: A plumber’s version

© Al Turtle 2000 Print this Paper in PDF

So many time I have found it useful to have learned about emotions.  I was not taught any of this when I was kid, and I went through so many experiences in life completely confused when it came to understanding, managing, and living with feelings.  I was also at a complete disadvantage when someone would flash their knowledge of feelings.  Like so  many, I learned to be respectful when someone shifted, saying, “I think you are being unfair. No, I feel you are being unfair.”

When I entered graduate school in counseling, my advisor asked my what a “feeling” was.   Whatever I said to him I do not recall, but he told me that I needed to get into the counseling program quick, to fix my woeful ignorance.

My Masters paper was written upon Anger: A Resource Paper for Teachers.  I had come a long way in a year. That paper, like my early training in Counseling, was a major turning point in my life.  It marked the path that lead to this set of Essays, which I think of as a plumber’s version of emotions – i.e. a description of emotions that even an uncomplicated guy could learn from.

And so, if you are confused about the role of emotions in your life, here we go with all the answers.

Thoughts vs Emotions

Before I launch into the guts of the matter, let me settle an important point.  Feelings are feelings and feelings are not thoughts.   People use the word “feeling” when they are speaking of thoughts often.  I think they learn this along the way, but also I think that many people are somewhat intimidated by the word “feeling” and thus people who use it are often treated as more believable.  Whatever, let me set the record straight right up front.

As I move along, you may get the impression that feelings are a bit more real than thought.  I believe that.  Feelings are very real.  They happen.  They exist even when people say they are not there.  People can misunderstand feeling, mis-label them, but the underlying feelings are still present. Feelings are very objective.  Researchers know what babies are feeling in the womb.  I can measure the contents of  your blood stream and thus measure and describe some of  your feelings.

I can not do that about your thoughts.  Thoughts or thought processes seem to be much more vague.  I can think one thing all morning and think the opposite all afternoon.  I can fully believe that which I fully disbelieve in 10 minutes.  I think of thoughts a little the way I think of data in a computer.  Words, words, words.

But feelings seem very solid.  I believe it is silly to trust thoughts and be hesitant about feelings.  Still that seems to be what our culture teaches.

Feel that.. vs Think that..

One thing I want to encourage you to do right now.  Stop saying. “I feel that….” or “I feel like….”   Those are some of the more misleading statements in the English language.  Use the word “feel” for a feeling and use the word “think” for a thought.

“I feel that you are cheating me.” Is a nice sentence, but critically defective.  The feeling is left out of it.  The sentence should read “I feel angry when I think you are cheating me.”  Now the “feeling” has been put back in.  And notice that the feeling, that was left out, is pretty important.

Learn to use “thought words” and separate them from “feeling words”.  I have found this to significantly clear up a great amount of confusion.

Thought words: think, believe, recall, imagine, guess, have a hunch.  Most thought words are followed by “that”.  “I believe that you are….”

I think that if you hear the word “feel” followed by “that”, we are not into talking about “feelings.”

Words and Symbols

That counseling profession taught me that all psychology was based on this wheel.   So here it is.

The sentence was taught me as, “Words and Symbols evoke Feelings, which evoke Thought Processes, which are full of Words and Symbols.”

I think of words as symbols.  They have spelling and use letters and when spoken, have sounds.  Other symbols may not have letters, may have only sounds, or just gestures.  Objects can be a symbol.

Studying General Semantics years ago, I learned that “words” do not have meaning.  People have meaning and people use words to try to communicate the meaning they have.  A dictionary, I recall, was a history book of the meanings that people have used a word for.   I learned to never argue about the meaning of a word, but to ask the user what they meant by it.  Who knows if they have the same meaning I have for a certain word?

The same is true of all symbols.  They mean different things to different people.  There is no right meaning for a word or a symbol. I suggest you get used to this idea.

Still all these words or symbols evoke feelings.  Yes, the feelings come first, before the thoughts.  I guess this is pretty basic to the way our brains work – fast.  If I show you a symbol of danger, your body starts to respond to that danger before the good old cortex decides what to do.  (See my Chapter on Safety, The Lizard.)  Apparently you body does not wait to think.  It moves.

My favorite word for this “evoking” is the word TRIGGER.  I use it a lot.  For me it means a “little thing” that kicks off something that may be a lot bigger.   Also it suggests a connection but not a causal connection.  I like that.  A symbol may trigger an emotion one time and may not the next time.

Emotions, Feelings, Affect

While I will define these words more fully later, here is my short description.  A feeling is an event in a person’s body that can be strong or weak or in-between.

I use the word Feeling and Emotion in the same way.  I think we have enough trouble getting the idea without splitting hairs over the difference between them.

Affect is a word often used in the medical world to refer to signs of the feelings a person is experiencing.  A nurse might make a note that a patient’s affect was agitated, which seems be the same as “the patient displayed behavior that indicates he feels agitated.”  Most people won’t run into the word “affect.”

Now, these events in the body have an effect on the brain.  Often the event is chemical and the chemicals (hormones, etc.) cause all sorts of shifts in the brain.  Still the important idea is that the events, the feelings, trigger thought processes – chains of thoughts.

Differing events trigger differing thought processes.  When a person is angry, some parts of the cortex are shut down and others are awakened.  When a person is scared, other parts are affected.   I think it is fascinating to watch people when their emotions are strong and to witness how different are the memories available to them in one state of emotions from another.

Thought Processes

I think of thought processes as strings of symbols like sentences.  They start, have a middle and come to an end.  Paragraphs are to me a little like a single thought process.  If I am trying to make a point, I will start, say some more and then finally reach an end.

I don’t think of thought processes as having any sort of reality to them per se.  I can think of a green elephant, but that doesn’t make a green elephant appear.  I can think that you are a crook, but that doesn’t make you a crook.

However, thought processes are full of symbols and words.  That’s the way our cortexes work and store things.  And those wonderful words and symbols may trigger new emotions.

And round we go, day in day out, all through our lives.  Fascinating and simple.

My profession told me that all kinds of therapy work on one or more parts of this wheel.

Giving people medicine attempts to interfere with the emotions that are triggered by the words and symbols.

Psycho Education or teaching, and that is what I am doing here, tries to change the thought processes that are kicked off by the emotions.  It also attempts to change the words and symbols those thought processes contain.

Behavior Modification often seeks to change the link between a word or a symbol and the emotions that are evoked.

Again, pretty simple, but fascinating.

Simplest of all emotions: Attraction

This paper will lead you to some interesting places and so let me start with something fun.  The simplest of all emotions is the emotion of attraction.   There are lots of words for this emotion but what I want you to do is experience it, now.

Think of the foods in your refrigerator and think of whether they “attract” you or “repel” you.  Just observe yourself and this one dimension of attraction. Now think of attraction as a measurable scale.

Plus 10 to minus 10

Absolute, powerful attraction, is a plus 10.  “Who cares”, or a neutral feeling is a zero.   Absolute and powerful feelings of getting away from it are minus 10.

Try this on a menu in a restaurant.  I bet you can “score” everything.

Now look around and everything and everyone in your life.  See the scores!  We often gather a lot of high plus score objects to us and put a lot of high negative things in the garbage.

This is a feeling.   Ask yourself, “Do feelings stay the same?”  Nope.  Is there any “right” or “wrong” about these scores?  Nope.  Does anyone have the same scores you have?  Nope.

Welcome to the world of feelings!  They are part of you, unique to you, and cannot be wrong!  They just are.

And so here I go with the best definition for feelings or emotions that I can come up with.  After I give you this definition I will give three examples that illustrate all parts of the definition.  Then I will describe the four prime emotions.

Remember that these are my definitions, not the “official” definitions.

An emotion has five distinct qualities: facticity, amount, consciousness, label and value.

An event in the body

An emotion is an event in your body. It actually happens.  It is measurable.  A person does not even need to be conscious to have emotions.  An emotion is not a figment of the imagination.

Since it is an event, an emotion exists in time.  They start, and the end.

It is possible to identify what babies feel even before they are born.  (The primary emotion they feel is pleasure, by the way.)

Chemical in nature: Intensity

Most emotions are chemicals.  All emotions act as if they were chemical.  The point here is that emotions do not click on and off.  And emotion starts, grows bigger and bigger and then may decrease until finally it ends.

Emotions always have an “amount” or intensity to them.  The question is never are you angry or not angry – yes or no.  The question is how angry are you.  How angry are you now?  And now?

As I mentioned in the simple emotion of attraction, I find it useful to put a number on the level of an emotion.  Zero means none.  I think of five as maximum.  And so to accurately speak of emotions one can say, “I was scared at a 5 level for a bit, but it decreased a while ago to about 3.  Now I am just a bit nervous, perhaps a 1.”

A decrease in intensity is often called a release or is spoke of as relief.  Remember this for later.

There is a component of awareness that comes with emotions.  One can be completely unaware of an emotion ripping through the body.  Or one can be unaware until an emotion reaches a certain level of intensity.  Or some even can bring an emotion to your awareness.

Some people are almost completely unaware of their own emotions.  Some are exquisitely sensitive.

One confusion about emotions is the difference between the emotion as an event, and the emotion as an experience.  It is possible for an emotion to begin at one time and to start affecting your behavior while you are still not aware of it.  At some point you become aware of the emotion and at that point your subjective awareness begins.  That awareness may continue until the level of that emotion is quite a bit lower.  Then the event may continue for a bit after you are no longer aware. If I ask you about your experience and I measure your emotional experience, reports may be quite different.

Another very difficult problem is that I can be having an emotion, I can be displaying signs of that emotion, others can observe these signs, and I can be completely unaware. Others may be much more aware of my feelings than I am.  In many ways I am an open book about some of my emotions.  I can try to keep them hidden, but feelings can be hard to hide.

When we speak about emotions, really we are reporting on them.  We are labeling what we are feeling.  And we can mislabel feelings quite easily.  When my professor asked me to describe an emotion and when I could not, he handed me a large list of words people have used for emotions.  I found this quite useful and include this list at the end of this chapter.

Social Value

Finally, emotions have value in our culture.  Some emotions are desirable at certain times and undesirable at others.  Some emotions are considered “bad” emotions.

For instance, I was taught that all emotions just “get in the way.”  In contrast I have learned that life is greatly more enjoyable when I treasure the emotions that move in me and others.

Before I go to work sharing my thoughts about the “big” emotions, I would like to give you some examples that I hope will illustrate all the parts of the definition.

Many would not thing of hunger as an emotion, but I think it is an excellent starting place.  Hunger is an event in your body.  It comes and goes.  It gets stronger and weaker.  Its chemistry relates to blood sugar levels in your body.

Note how awareness is involved.  Aren’t there times when you have worked for a while and then suddenly become aware of how hungry you are?  Truly, you’ve been hungry for some time, but just haven’t noticed.  “Wow! Am I famished! I could eat a horse.”  This is the exclamation of a person who has been distracted from the slow growing feeling of hunger.

Heck, I can remain hungry for some time during dinner. And I may still be eating while my hunger goes away.

Most people do not have any trouble reporting on their hunger.

But look at the issue of social value.  Ask yourself, what is the value of being hungry one hour before dinner time?  I’ve found it is a good time to not snack even though my stomach is growling. Then “dinner is served” and hunger is suddenly of high value.  “Aren’t you hungry, dear?  What’s the matter?”

This is a similar emotion in that it happens, grows larger and grows smaller (chemical).  The question is not “Are you thirsty?” but “How thirsty are you?”  I think thirst has something to do with inter-cellular water levels (event).

Again, a person can get thirsty without noticing it.  Think of how taverns take advantage of awareness.  They show customers pictures of water running, of salty products and even put popcorn on the tables, all to bring you awareness of your levels of thirst.  If you were only slightly thirsty when you arrived, the scene will not raise the level of your thirst, but will raise your awareness of it.

Most people are clear about their reporting of thirst, and speak clearly.

And again the social value of being thirsty is pretty simple. In most situations I think being thirsty is socially acceptable.

But do take notice that a person may say they are “thirsty for a cold beer,” when that is not exactly the emotion of thirst, but a matter of a desire for a particular taste or temperature. The label “thirsty” is being used differently.

Now let’s get into some fun.  Alertness I think of as the feeling of being awake or sleepy.  The more alert you are, the wider your eyes are and the more you tend to want to move.  The less alert you are, the more you yawn, look sleepy and tend to move less.

Alertness has to do with the reticular activating system in our brain.  It happens.  (Event)

The feeling of alertness goes up and down during the day and all night.  It becomes more or less intense (chemical).  Most adults have about a 90 minute cycle: alert at some point and then much slower about 45 minutes later.  Dreams take place in the alert part of our sleep periods.

A person can be sleepy and yawning while they think they are wide awake.  Here is an emotion that is quite visible to others, and yet may be out of our awareness.

Here is a story I tell my clients.  Imagine an 8-year old boy.  It is about 7:30 in the evening.  He is yawning.  A parent says to him, “Are you sleepy?”  The boy jerks, widens his eyes and says, :”Nope, definitely not!”  Here is a report about an emotion that is obviously out of sync with the “actual” emotion.  He is sleepy, but says he is not.  People can lie about their emotions quite easily.  What is going on here?  Well, the boy is actually answering a different question that the one being asked.  He is answering the question, “Do you want to be sent to bed?”  His answer is now obviously valid, where before it was confusing.

My point is that reports of emotions can be and are normally widely different from the emotion being felt or being observed.

And what of the social value of alertness?  During a school class or at church yawning is frowned on.  On Christmas Eve being wide awake is a handicap.

Need to pee

Not often thought of as an emotion, still it has all the characteristics.  The need does happen in your body (event). It involves chemical changes in the tissues of and surrounding your bladder. It grows more and more intense over time.

One can need to pee for quite some time before one becomes aware of it.  As an older man, I am quite aware of this phenomenon in the early morning.  Sometimes awareness can seem to increase the intensity.

But now I want to introduce another point about reporting.  Let’s say a friend is picking me up for a drive.  He asks if I need to use the bathroom.  I say, “No.”  He says that there will be not place to stop for about 2 hours, and now I change my report.  I say, “Yes.”  The report of an emotion can change based on a change in the situation while there is no change in the subjective feeling.

The social value of this “emotion” is also fascinating.  I think of how one person saying, “I need to visit the facilities,” can trigger many people getting up and going there together.  And, I recall once in military boot camp a sailor who was not allowed to go to the “head” as a kind of training incident – he was shamed.

Summary of Emotions: Part 1

Let us see where we have gotten so far.

• Emotions are not thoughts, beliefs or ideas
• Emotions are triggered within a person, never caused by the external world.
• Different emotions lead to different thoughts
• Emotions actually happen and have intensity that varies.
• Emotions and the reports of them can be quite different.
• Emotions occur whether we are aware of them or not.
• Other people can sometimes see our emotions, which we unaware of.
• Society has all sorts of rules around emotions.
• My boundary rules: All emotions are valid. and No one can make you feel anything.

Next Part on Feelings and Emotions

Feelings and Emotions: The Essay, Part One — 9 Comments

Curious in reference to emotions vs thoughts in the context that all emotions are not only reflective of past experiences (memories) but also the present state of mind also encompassing any current environmental factors.These must be considered relevant in relation to an action occurring. As we react to a situation, symbols – verbal and visual – are we not relying on the core basic thought pattern that is most paramount for all species – Survival ? Therefore I wonder if the topic regarding the chicken and the egg need to be discussed. I wish to say this is the first article of yours I have read and intend to follow up with additional research of your past articles. Thank you for the insight.. Enjoy the Day – with PMA Benny

Dear Al Turtle,

I refer to your essay about Emotion vs Thoughts.

I love your writing style! You make it so easy for a new comer to grasp the concept in the most simple way. I would like to read more of your essays…where can i look them up?

Thanks for the compliments. Most of my writings are in two places. This website http://www.alturtle.com has a couple of hundred articles. I have written quite alot more on http://www.marriageadvoceates.com in a section called Turtle’s Whiteboard . Enjoy.

i love the article

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Emotional Writing: 36 Prompts for Expressive and Impactful Content

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on August 30, 2023

Categories Writing , Creative Writing

If you’re a writer, you know that the goal of writing is to connect with your readers. One of the best ways to do that is through emotional writing.

Emotional writing is all about evoking strong feelings in your readers. When readers can connect with the emotions of a character in a story, they are more likely to become invested in the story through the end.

Understanding emotional writing is crucial for any writer who wants to create a meaningful connection with their readers. Emotional writing is not just about making readers feel happy or sad. It’s about creating an emotional connection that lasts long after the story is over.

It’s about making readers feel like they are a part of the story. Emotional writing can be used in any genre, from romance to horror to science fiction.

If you want to master emotional writing, you need to learn the techniques that will help you create an emotional connection with your readers. There are many different techniques that you can use, from using sensory language to creating relatable characters. By mastering these techniques, you can create stories that will stay with your readers long after they’ve finished reading.

Key Takeaways

• Emotional writing is all about evoking strong feelings in your readers and creating an emotional connection that lasts long after the story is over.
• Understanding emotional writing is crucial for any writer who wants to create a meaningful connection with their readers.
• To master emotional writing, you need to learn the techniques that will help you create an emotional connection with your readers, such as using sensory language and creating relatable characters.

36 Prompts to Spark Emotional Writing

Prompts can be an excellent way to unlock your writing inspiration when it comes to emotional writing. Here are a series of ideas, grouped by emotion:

Happiness 😊

• Write about a happy memory from childhood
• Describe a time you felt pure joy
• List things that make you smile

Sadness 😢

• Write a letter to your younger self about a time you were hurting
• Describe a loss that had a big impact on you
• List things that help lift you when you’re feeling down

Anger 😠

• Write about a time you felt wronged
• Describe a situation that makes your blood boil
• List healthy ways to express anger

Fear 😨

• Write about an irrational fear you have
• Describe a scary experience from your past
• List things that help you feel safe and comforted

Disappointment 😞

• Write about a time you felt let down
• Describe a situation where you didn’t meet your own expectations
• List ways to reframe disappointment into opportunity

Jealousy 😒

• Write about a time you felt envious of someone else’s success
• Describe a situation that brought out your competitive side
• List ways to feel genuinely happy for others

Embarrassment 😳

• Write about an awkward memory that makes you cringe
• Describe a time you really embarrassed yourself
• List things that help you laugh at yourself

Pride 😌

• Write about an accomplishment you feel proud of
• Describe a time someone made you feel valued
• List your unique strengths and talents

Gratitude 😊

• Write a thank you letter to someone important to you
• Describe a simple pleasure you’re grateful for
• List small joys you want to appreciate more

Love ❤️

• Write about someone who means the world to you
• Describe what unconditional love feels like
• List ways to show love in your daily life

Hope 😌

• Write about a dream you have for the future
• Describe a time you overcame a challenge
• List reasons to remain optimistic

Inspiration 💡

• Write about someone who motivates you
• Describe a time you felt deeply inspired
• List things that spark creativity for you

Understanding Emotional Writing

Emotional writing is a form of writing that evokes strong feelings in the reader. It is a way of conveying emotions through written words. In this section, we will explore the basics of emotional writing and the importance of emotional writing.

Basics of Emotional Writing

Emotional writing is all about creating an emotional connection with the reader. To achieve this, you need to use language that is evocative and descriptive.

You need to describe the emotions that your characters are feeling in a way that the reader can relate to.

This can be achieved through the use of metaphors, similes, and sensory details.

One of the most important aspects of emotional writing is character development. You need to create characters that are relatable and have a depth of emotion.

This means that you need to understand your characters’ motivations and desires, as well as their fears and insecurities.

By doing so, you can create characters that feel like real people, and the reader can empathize with them.

Importance of Emotional Writing

Emotional writing is important because it can make your writing more engaging and memorable. When readers feel emotionally connected to a story, they are more likely to remember it.

Emotional writing can also create a sense of catharsis for the reader, allowing them to experience emotions that they may not have felt in their own lives.

Emotional writing can also be therapeutic for the writer. Writing about emotions can help you process your own feelings and experiences. It can also be a way of exploring different perspectives and gaining a deeper understanding of the human experience.

In conclusion, emotional writing is a powerful tool that can be used to create a strong emotional connection between the writer and the reader.

By understanding the basics of emotional writing and its importance, you can create writing that is engaging, memorable, and meaningful.

Techniques for Emotional Writing

Here are some techniques that can help you write emotional scenes that will stay with your readers long after they have finished reading your work:

Show, Don’t Tell

One of the most effective ways to convey emotion is to show, not tell. Instead of telling your readers that a character is feeling sad or angry, show them through the character’s actions, thoughts, and dialogue.

For example, if a character is feeling sad, you can describe how they slump their shoulders, avoid eye contact, and speak in a quiet voice.

Use of Language and Dialogue

The language you use in your writing can also help you create an emotional connection with your readers. Use powerful, descriptive words that evoke strong emotions in your readers.

For example, instead of saying a character is “angry,” you can use words like “furious,” “enraged,” or “livid.”

Dialogue is another powerful tool for conveying emotion. Use realistic, authentic dialogue that reflects how people actually speak. This can help your readers feel like they are eavesdropping on a real conversation, which can make the emotional impact of the scene even more powerful.

Creating Authentic Characters

Creating authentic, believable characters is crucial for emotional writing. Your characters should have flaws, fears, and desires that make them relatable to your readers. This can help your readers empathize with your characters and feel emotionally invested in their story.

Effective Use of Imagery

Imagery is another powerful tool for emotional writing. Use sensory details to help your readers experience the emotions along with your characters.

For example, describing the smell of the rain during a sad moment can help your readers feel the character’s sadness. Sensory details ground the reader in the moment, which can make them feel it more.

In conclusion, emotional writing is all about creating a connection between your readers and your characters.

Types of Emotional Writing

When it comes to emotional writing, there are several different types of writing that can utilize emotions to create a powerful impact on the reader.

Here are some of the most common types of emotional writing:

Writing Emotions in Fiction

Fiction is one of the most popular genres for emotional writing. This is because in fiction, the writer has complete control over the characters and the situations they find themselves in. This means that the writer can create scenarios that are designed to evoke specific emotions in the reader.

Whether it’s a heart-wrenching love story or a thrilling action sequence, fiction can be a great way to explore emotions.

Emotional Writing in Nonfiction

Nonfiction may not seem like an obvious choice for emotional writing, but it can be just as effective as fiction. In fact, nonfiction can be even more powerful because it deals with real-life situations and experiences.

Whether it’s a memoir, a personal essay, or a self-help book, nonfiction can be a great way to explore emotions and connect with readers on a deeper level.

Script and Novel Writing

Script and novel writing are similar to fiction in that they allow the writer to create characters and situations that can evoke emotions in the reader. However, script and novel writing can also be more challenging because they require a strong plot and well-developed characters.

This means that the writer must be able to balance the emotional content with the overall story arc.

Poetry and Emotional Writing

Poetry is perhaps the most obvious choice for emotional writing. The very nature of poetry is to evoke emotions through language and imagery.

Whether it’s a sonnet, a haiku, or a free verse poem, poetry can be a powerful tool for exploring emotions and connecting with readers on a deep level.

No matter what type of writing you choose, emotional writing can be a powerful way to connect with readers and create a lasting impact. By exploring the different types of emotional writing, you can find the style that works best for you and your message.

Creating an Emotional Connection with Readers

To create an emotional connection with your readers, you need to engage them, evoke emotion, and build anticipation.

Engaging the Reader

Engaging the reader is the first step in creating an emotional connection. You need to capture their attention and keep them interested in your writing.

One way to do this is to start with a hook that draws them in. You can use a question, a quote, or a startling fact to grab their attention.

Another way to engage your reader is to use vivid descriptions and sensory details. This helps them to visualize what you are writing about and makes the experience more real and tangible.

You can also use anecdotes and personal stories to make your writing more relatable and connect with readers on a personal level.

Evoking Emotion

The key to emotional writing is to evoke emotion in your readers. You need to make them feel something, whether it is happiness, sadness, anger, or fear.

To do this, you need to use descriptive language that paints a picture in their minds.

One way to evoke emotion is to use metaphors and similes. These comparisons can help readers to understand complex emotions and situations.

You can also use repetition and parallelism to create a sense of rhythm and emotion in your writing.

Turning Pages: Building Anticipation

Finally, to create an emotional connection with your readers, you need to build anticipation. You want them to keep reading and turning the pages to find out what happens next.

One way to do this is to use cliffhangers and plot twists that keep them guessing.

You can also use foreshadowing to hint at what is to come and create a sense of anticipation. This can be done through subtle hints and clues that are woven throughout your writing.

By building anticipation, you can keep your readers engaged and emotionally invested in your writing.

Mastering Emotional Writing

Emotional writing is about diving into the heart of your characters, understanding their joys and sorrows, and portraying these feelings so authentically that your readers cannot help but feel them too.

Here are some techniques to help you master emotional writing:

Writing from Personal Experience

One of the most effective ways to write emotionally is to draw from your own experiences. Think about a time when you felt a strong emotion, such as love, anger, or fear. Use that experience as a starting point for your writing.

By drawing on your own emotions, you can create characters and situations that feel authentic and relatable.

Observation and Awareness

Another way to write emotionally is to observe the world around you. Pay attention to the people you meet, the places you go, and the things you see. Notice the details that make them unique and interesting.

By observing the world with awareness, you can create characters and situations that feel real and vivid.

Distancing and Perspective

Sometimes, it can be difficult to write emotionally when you’re too close to the subject matter. In these cases, it can be helpful to create some distance and perspective.

Try writing from the perspective of someone else, such as a friend or family member. This can help you see the situation in a new light and create more emotional depth in your writing.

In conclusion, emotional writing is a powerful tool that can help you connect with your readers on a deeper level. By mastering emotional writing, you can create impactful stories that resonate with your audience.

To become a master of emotional writing, it’s important to understand the power of emotions and how to use them effectively in your writing.

You should also learn how to create characters that are relatable and evoke emotions in your readers.

Additionally, it’s important to understand the impact that your writing can have on your readers. Emotional writing can be a powerful way to inspire, motivate, and even change people’s lives.

Overall, emotional writing is an essential skill for any writer who wants to create impactful stories that resonate with readers.

By mastering emotional writing, you can create stories that are not only entertaining but also meaningful and inspiring.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to write emotions in text.

To write emotions in text, you need to use descriptive words that evoke a feeling in the reader. Use sensory details such as sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch to paint a vivid picture of the emotion you want to convey. It’s also important to show, not tell, the emotion by using actions and dialogue that demonstrate how the character is feeling.

How to write emotions in a story?

To write emotions in a story, you need to create characters that are relatable and have realistic emotions. Use the same techniques as writing emotions in text, but also make sure to give your characters a backstory and motivation for their feelings. Use the plot to create situations that will naturally evoke emotions in the characters, and make sure to show the consequences of those emotions.

What is expressive writing?

Expressive writing is a form of writing that focuses on expressing your emotions and thoughts. It can be used as a therapeutic tool to help you process and cope with difficult experiences. To practice expressive writing, set aside time to write about your feelings and thoughts without worrying about grammar or structure. The goal is to let your emotions flow freely onto the page.

How to write an emotional essay?

To write an emotional essay, you need to choose a topic that is personal and meaningful to you. Use descriptive language to paint a picture of the experience or person you are writing about, and use storytelling techniques to create a narrative that evokes emotions in the reader. Make sure to connect the emotions to a larger theme or message that you want to convey.

What is an example of an emotional word?

An example of an emotional word is “heartbroken.” This word immediately evokes a feeling of sadness and loss. Other emotional words include “ecstatic,” “terrified,” “nostalgic,” “enraged,” and “grateful.”

How do you convey overwhelming emotions in writing?

To convey overwhelming emotions in writing, use strong sensory details and vivid language to create a visceral experience for the reader. Use short, choppy sentences to mimic the feeling of being overwhelmed, and use repetition to emphasize the intensity of the emotion. Make sure to balance the intensity with moments of relief or release to prevent the reader from becoming too overwhelmed themselves.

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Essay Samples on Emotions

The influence of emotions on the online behavior of internet users.

This paper will cover the influences that our emotions have on our behaviour and the impact that what we consume has on our emotions. How we feel may have more impact than we realised. So how emotions are connected with the way people search and...

• Effects of Social Media
• Impact of Media

Maintaining Emotional Balance and Well-Being of Students

The word emotion is derivative of the Latin word “emovere” which means to stir-up or agitate or excite. The feeling of a person at a particular instant of time knowingly or on knowingly is called emotion. According to crow and crow “An emotion is effective...

• Teacher-Student Relationships

A Lesson That Can Be Learned by Experiencing Strong Emotions

I experienced strong emotion when my friends didn't invite me to join their surprise for our friend Janessa. I know that day that it's Janessa's birthday that's why I am expecting that they will come to me to get my contribution for the surprise but...

Emotion: Circumstances, Mood or Relationships With Others

Feelings are natural states related with the anxious system welcomed on by neurophysiological changes differently connected with considerations, emotions, social reactions, and a level of delight or displeasure. There is presently no logical accord on a definition.The feeling is frequently interlaced with state of mind,...

Emotion and Intensity: How We Can Read Our Emotions

Can we have valid and reliable evidence proving that there is a Universal language? Can a person know another person's emotion by observing the different levels of eye intensity? Is eye intensity a universal language? Eye intensity is the brightness and ambiguous intensity of looking....

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1. The Influence of Emotions on the Online Behavior of Internet Users

2. Maintaining Emotional Balance and Well-Being of Students

3. A Lesson That Can Be Learned by Experiencing Strong Emotions

4. Emotion: Circumstances, Mood or Relationships With Others

5. Emotion and Intensity: How We Can Read Our Emotions

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Psychoanalysis

What Are Feelings?

How are they related to drives or instincts?

Posted March 21, 2016 | Reviewed by Davia Sills

March 2016 Newsletter

We have suggested that in order to understand human beings, we must examine the origins of feelings (affects), language, and cognition . This month, we start our discussion of feelings.

“We have argued… that affective responses [feelings] are the primary motives of human beings… We have further assumed that affects are primarily facial behaviors… When we become aware of these facial responses, we are aware of our affects.” —Silvan S. Tomkins, 1964 (Demos, 1995, p. 217)

As we begin this section, right away, we run into a problem: What are feelings? Feelings, emotions, affects—over the ages, these have had many different meanings to many various philosophers, researchers, and clinicians.

Do they refer to our subjective experience? Or behavioral manifestations? Conscious or unconscious ? How are they related to drives or instincts? A vast literature has evolved in this area literally over centuries. As Knapp (1987) noted: “This literature encompasses a wide variety of definitions, approaches, and data… psychology as a whole speaks about emotion in many different tongues” (p. 205-6).

Complexities

In addition, terms and concepts for feelings change with development: We’ll discuss how humans are born with a relatively small number of primary affects, which then combine with each other and life’s experiences to form our more complex emotional world.

For example, one conceptualization of terms which takes development into account is that provided by the psychoanalyst Michael Basch (1983). He suggested the term "affect" be restricted to the eight or nine autonomically mediated somatic reactions.

Feelings, then, become a possibility approximately between 18-24 months, when capacities for symbolization, self-reflection, and reasoning occur. Emotions are seen as more complex states appearing later, “experienced as a unity in a relationship to the self and its goals” (p. 118).

Another example of exploring the development of feelings is provided by Richard Lane and Gary Schwartz (1987). They described levels of emotional awareness and integrated Piaget’s work on cognitive development with the emotional experience. Their model has five levels of emotion organization and awareness:

1. Sensorimotor reflexive: Emotion is experienced only as bodily sensations, but may be evident to others in the individual’s facial expression.

2. Sensorimotor enactive: Emotion is experienced as both a body sensation and an action tendency.

3. Preoperational: Emotions are experienced psychologically as well as somatically, but they are unidimensional, and verbal descriptions are often stereotyped.

4. Concrete operational: There is an awareness of blends of feelings, and the individual can describe complex and differentiated emotional states that are part of his or her subjective experience.

5. Formal operational: There is an awareness of combinations of blends of feelings, as well as a capacity to make subtle distinctions between nuances of emotion, and an ability to comprehend the multidimensional emotional experience of other people.

Also—consider the various definitions of instincts and drives and their relationships with feelings. Webster’s relevant definition of a drive is an urgent, basic, or instinctual need—a motivating physiological condition of an organism.

And instinct is defined as a largely inheritable and unalterable tendency of an organism to make a complex and specific response to environmental stimuli without involving reason. Instincts and drives have been related to sex, aggression , hunger, and oxygen. Remember Freud ’s models of motivation :

“…the brain functions like a steam boiler that is constantly under excess pressure and needs to discharge continuously through thought or action the excess energy produced by the sexual instinct and by the (later postulated) aggressive instinct” (Basch, 1988, p. 13).

But this was only an analogy, without explanatory value:

“Freud knew this: he himself referred to the instinct theory as the ‘mythology’ of psychoanalysis ” (Basch, 1988, p. 13).

Jaak Panksepp discusses these issues from a neurobiological perspective, stating: “Traditionally, all motivated behaviors have been divided into appetitive and consummatory components” (1998, p. 146, emphasis in original).

As we will explore in more detail later, Tomkins and his colleagues suggested that there are about 8-9 inherent primary affects, which are reactions to stimuli and become our feelings and develop into our more complex emotional life. He considered these as “amplifiers,” which are the essential motivators of human behavior and influence drives or instincts (Tomkins, 1991; Basch, 1976; Demos, 1995).

The point is that we have learned a tremendous amount about emotional development over the past several years. These advances have occurred from various perspectives—neurobiological, clinical, cognitive, linguistic, and so on. A number of different models, levels of conceptualization, and metaphors have emerged.

These issues have been wonderfully summarized in more detail elsewhere, and many of the so-called classic theories are no longer viable due to the increased developmental and neurophysiologic data (e.g., see Plutchik, 1962; Tomkins, 1991; Demos, 1995; Izard, 1977; Lewis and Rosenblum, 1978; Ekman, 1998; Knapp, 1987; Holinger, 2008; Basch, 1988; Panksepp, 1998).

Some of the subtle differences in terms may emerge as we discuss the history and research of emotional life. But, for our purposes here, I suggest we use these words interchangeably in their everyday meaning.

For example, “affect” is a more technical term than the others. Affect tends to refer to the earliest preverbal manifestations of feelings, which are biological responses to stimuli (such as specific facial expressions seen in the preverbal child). Yet, even the term affect is sometimes also used to refer to aspects of our more complex emotional life, i.e., blends of feelings. Again, for the most part, these terms will be used here interchangeably in their everyday meaning.

Further Questions

So we want to go in a different direction. We want to focus on the origins, our earliest feelings, and innate patterns, and play with the developmental and clinical information in that area.

This topic is loaded with questions.

Can one “see” feelings? As we’ll show, in a sense, one can: The earliest feelings are readily seen in the faces and bodily postures of infants and young children, prior to the cerebral cortex being able to override these expressions.

Can one “hear” feelings? It certainly seems so—consider the cry of distress or the “roar of rage” of an infant or young child.

Can one “feel” feelings? Certainly, in a very visceral way. Think about a major disappointment and the feeling in the pit of the stomach. Or a loss and the feelings of sadness (distress). If one is embarrassed, there is often a feeling of heat in the face, and blushing which leaves the face reddened.

One can also experience feelings through words. Words can lend nuances of feelings to the primary affects as one develops. Various cultures have different vocabularies for feelings. For instance, some cultures may not have a word for depression (Ekman, 1998). However, cross-cultural studies show that feelings are universal—all human beings begin with the same set of feelings. More on this later.

Feelings are also observed, albeit indirectly, through symptoms. Physical symptoms, such as hysterical paralyses (no neurological reason for the paralysis), convey important, conflicted feelings internally. Breathing problems are another common symptom of feelings, such as intense distress or fear .

What Happens Clinically to Real People and Patients

Feelings offer us a wonderful opportunity to help people understand themselves and their lives and where they want to go. When feelings are appreciated and negotiated well, healthy development is enhanced. This is what Donald Winnicott referred to with the term “facilitating environment” (1965).

But what happens when feelings are not understood, or traumas intervene? Development can go off-track, and this can be seen in children as well as adults.

For Example:

This is a story of children who are troubled, angry, overly-aggressive, or mutely inhibited—children whose lives and development are close to being seriously derailed.

• Alex, 5 years old, rushed into my waiting room, tried to butt his mother with his head, then punched her and tried to bite her. His school behavior was no better, and the school was about to expel him.
• Sarah, 7 years old, was brought to see me, in part, because she was terrified of thunderstorms, cowering in the bathtub whenever there was thunder or lightning. “I don’t know why I’m here,” she said, almost inaudibly, being nearly immobile, looking down, sad and depressed. Her mother said Sarah frequently went ballistic in the mornings before school, running up and down the street screaming and crying.

This is also a story about people who reach adulthood and do not know who they are or what they want to do.

• Dan, a 53-year-old corporate accountant, sat in my office. Slowly he put his face in his hands and began sobbing: “I’m embarrassed… I have to confess, I really do not know who I am.”
• Tom, a 46-year-old unmarried executive, said sadly: “I make enough money, but I feel stuck in my career , and I don’t like what I’m doing… and I feel isolated—I want a relationship, and I cannot seem to have one.”
• Shirley, a 42-year-old lawyer, said: “Everything in my life just seems to be off-track somehow… my relationship with my husband, my work—neither seems to be me… things are just not right.”

I am a psychiatrist and child/adolescent and adult psychoanalyst. I work with people such as those presented above, primarily using words and play and our relationship to help them understand their inner world, their feelings, their aspirations, and goals. Sometimes we also use medications. The problems presented above so often occur because of a not-so-subtle dismissal of feelings, a lack of understanding feelings.

How does this happen? Why do we seem to have trouble understanding and focusing on feelings rather than behaviors? Feelings can scare us, the rawness and power—hatred, attraction , sadness and grief , love—but we also overlook the information and knowledge about feelings, which do exist, and which can help us immensely.

Turning Things Upside-Down

Focusing on Feelings to Understand Behaviors

Sometimes turning things upside-down and inside-out allows us to see issues differently and make important changes. Such is the case in development. The question at stake involves the importance of learning about the inner world of children and adults.

Our society tends to focus on behaviors. This is an important question:

How can we transform a culture from focusing on behaviors to focusing on the feelings which cause the behaviors?

When dealing with children, one most often hears concerns about behaviors. Is he doing this? Is she not doing that? He’s coming into our bed too much. She is marking on the walls with the crayons. And on and on.

But what leads to behaviors? Where do these behaviors come from? What motivates these behaviors? In children, it is primarily feelings. As development proceeds, behaviors are caused more by a mixture of feelings in collaboration with increased self-awareness and reason.

We are especially interested in the early years, where feelings most directly cause behaviors. As we will discuss, the earliest feelings can be seen as responses to stimuli. What we call feelings are seen in the baby’s facial expressions, bodily movements, and vocalizations.

With age comes psychological and neurobiological development (e.g., see Panksepp, 1998, and others for descriptions of the brain development). With age comes increased self-awareness, self-reflection, and reason. There are many ways to conceptualize this increased awareness of and control over the expression of feelings.

For example, Aristotle had a lovely description:

“…anyone can get angry—that is easy…but to do this to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motive, and in the right way, that is not for everyone, nor is it easy” ( The Nichomachean Ethics ).

Freud used the terms "id" and "ego." "Id" was comparable to basic feelings, and "ego" related to reason or cognition. His metaphor was a horse (id) and rider (ego). Abraham Lincoln, when he was angry, was known to write a letter, not send it, put it in a drawer, and a few days later communicate in a much calmer and more reasoned fashion. Thomas Jefferson said: “When angry, count 10 before you speak; if very angry, 100!”

Daniel Goleman has written a fine book dealing with issues of emotion and reason: Emotional Intelligence . This combination of awareness of feelings and reason leads to good interpersonal skills.

This month we have begun our exploration of feelings. Next month we shall ask: Do we overlook the importance of feelings? Are we still blind to feelings?

Recommended Books of the Month

Recommended for Adults:

Psychoanalytic Therapy with Infants and Parents: Practice Theory, and Results Björn Salomonsson (2014) New York, New York: Routledge

Björn Salomonsson is a Swedish psychoanalyst well-known for his studies in infant and child development . This book is a fascinating and complicated look at work with infants and parents as one tries to traverse the early years of development successfully.

This book was reviewed in the Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association (2015), Volume 63: 1269-1276. The review is well worth reading, as it describes various aspects of understanding and navigating the baby’s feelings (affects) and the interactions between infants and parents.

Recommended for Children/Adolescents:

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle (1996) Age Range: 2-5 Grade Level: Preschool-Kindergarten

Article of the Month:

"Balancing Act With Heidi Stevens" To stop a child's tantrum, sometimes you just have to go with it Chicago Tribune, Sunday, February 21, 2016, Section 6, page 3

"Show some empathy for your kids' troubles: Making children feel heard goes a long way."

This is a wonderful essay highlighting the importance of understanding and validating children's (and adult's!) feelings–i.e., empathy. It is the feelings which are important... focus on the feelings—they motivate/cause the behaviors.

So: First , understand, validate, listen... Second... later one can work on interpersonal skills, explanations, and so on.

Being empathic with your child will lead your child to be empathic with others.

Aristotle (Sachs J, 2002). Nicomachean Ethics. Newbury, MA: Focus Publishers, R. Pullins.

Basch MF (1976). The concept of affect: A re-examination. Journal American Psychoanalytic Association 24: 759-777

Basch MF (1983). Empathic understanding: A review of the concept and some theoretical implications. Journal American Psychoanalytic Association 31: 101-126.

Basch MF (1983). The perception of reality and the disavowal of meaning. The Annual of Psychoanalysis XI: 125-154.

Basch MF (1988). Understanding Psychotherapy: The Science Behind the Art. New York: Basic Books.

Demos EV (1995). Exploring Affect: The Selected Writings of Silvan S. Tomkins. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

Ekman P (ed) (1998). The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (C. Darwin, 3rd ed). New York: Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1872).

Goleman D (1985). Emotional Intelligence. New York, NY: Bantam Dell Books.

Holinger PC (2008). Further issues in the psychology of affect and motivation: A developmental perspective. Psychoanalytic Psychology 25: 425-442.

Izard CE (1977). Human Emotions. New York: Plenum Press.

Knapp PH (1987). Some contemporary contributions to the study of affect. Journal American Psychoanalytic Association 55: 205-248.

Lane R, Schwartz G (1987). Levels of emotional awareness: A cognitive developmental theory and its application to psychopathology. Amer J Psychiatry 144: 133-143.

Lewis M, Rosenblum LA (eds) (1978). The Development of Affect. New York: Plenum Press.

Panksepp J (1998). Affective Neuroscience: The Foundation of Human and Animal Emotions. New York: Oxford University Press.

Piaget J, Inhelder B (1969). The Psychology of the Child. New York: Basic Books (Originally in French, 1966).

Plutchik R (1962). The Emotions: Facts, Theory and a New Model. New York: Random House.

Tomkins SS (1991). Affect Imagery Consciousness (Volume III): The Negative Affects: Anger and Fear. New York: Springer.

Winnicott DW (1965). The Maturational Processes and the Facilitating Environment. New York: International Universities Press.

Paul C. Holinger, M.D., M.P.H. , a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, is a professor of psychiatry at Rush University Medical Center and author of What Babies Say Before They Can Talk .

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Emotional Writing: One Surprising Method for Creating Emotion in Your Readers

by Joslyn Chase | 0 comments

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As a writer, you’ve probably learned that story is not about what happens. Rather, it’s about how the events affect the protagonist. The plot points may appeal to the reader’s intellect, but you want to go deeper than that, reaching and stirring the coals of a reader’s emotions. That kind of emotional writing is when you make a real connection, establishing something meaningful between writer and reader.

But how is this done? How do you reach beyond the plot points and offer your reader something more? There are a number of ways to accomplish this, but I’m going to focus on one technique for writing emotional scenes that might surprise you.

Something surprising

Emotion is complex. We never experience a single, isolated emotion. Instead, the emotions that sweep through us are a continually changing, multi-layered twist of complicated and often conflicting thoughts and feelings. We each carry deep emotions and a range of emotion, often at the same time.

When you write a scene where something happens to evoke emotion in your character, you probably have your character feel and express the most obvious emotion so your reader can feel it too. It’s only logical.

And because it’s so logical, it hardly needs to be emphasized. Go ahead and let that predictable emotion come out, but consider edging it aside with something unexpected, tainting it with something shameful, or layering it with something seemingly random.

Dig a little deeper

Instead of focusing solely on the emotion that would logically follow the plot event, allow your character to experience some of the deeper layers of emotion surrounding that event.

Is there something in her past that colors the incident? Something she’s trying to hide? Something she can’t admit, even to herself? What subtleties underlie this event? What unbidden thoughts force their way into her mind?

This is often a good time for a mini flashback, or even a full-fledged one. Memory is very powerful tool for evoking emotion and is an effective way to reveal a surprising emotion, one that goes beyond what your character should be feeling to delve into the deeper layers of her psyche.

Further argument for the flashback

Another good reason to use a flashback when introducing an intense emotion is that it gives your reader time to process. Drawing out a memory slows the pace and gives your reader an opportunity to process what’s happening on the page and arrive at his own emotional response . This is key for emotional writing.

Telling the reader what to feel is a sure-fire way to make sure they won’t really feel it. Much better to come at it sideways with unexpected or conflicting emotion. When the reader processes and generates his own emotional response, the story becomes more meaningful and more memorable.

Let’s look at an example

Imagine your character witnesses a child getting hit by a car. That’s going to generate some emotion, the most obvious of which is horror and concern for the poor child.

What are some of the other emotions that will be flying around inside your character? Maybe pity for the parents, empathy or blame for the driver, impatience for the ambulance to arrive, and so on. Emotions that would logically follow such an event.

These are all normal and expected, but what happens when we peel back some layers and go deeper into the emotional experience?

Might we encounter relief that the child hit was not her own? Guilt for harboring such feelings?

A hint of ghoulish voyeurism, wanting to get closer and be in the drama of the moment? A random, insignificant thought that persistently intrudes like “Do my socks match?” This might be a manifestation of shock or denial, the mind trying to deny what it just saw or avoid the emotional pain of the experience.

Using this emotional writing technique deepens and broadens the range of emotions, allowing your reader an emotional journey of his own.

The importance of distance

Readers are people. Each reader comes to your book with her own unique perspectives and package of past experiences. Using distance in fiction is a little like how Christ used parables in his teaching. It allows each individual to accept and embrace as much as they are ready and willing to.

Like flashback, distancing techniques , such as humor and objective showing, give your reader the space she needs to determine how close she’ll let the story get to her heart.

For example, when a character’s life is too dark or painful to ask readers to deal with directly, give them the option of stepping back. I recently heard from a fan of my work who said she couldn’t read my latest book because it hit too close to home. She knew it would surface painful emotions for her.

The Tower deals with a rough domestic situation, and I didn’t always allow my readers a lot of distance from my protagonist, using techniques to instead pull them in close. A decision that clearly might cost me some readers.

Readers read for emotion

Readers come in all varieties, each looking for something a little different in their ideal reading experience. But on the most basic level, every reader reads for emotion. He wants to feel something. He wants an emotional connection.

If you’re a fiction writer and interested in learning more about writing emotions and working toward emotional mastery, I suggest reading Donald Maass’s very fine book, The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How To Write The Story Beneath The Surface .

The book includes an in-depth look at several useful techniques for evoking emotion in your readers, and makes compelling arguments for why you’d want to. Here’s one of my favorites:

And that’s a worthy goal—to send readers on a journey through their own emotional landscape. By creating a reading experience that evinces, surprises, and provides space for growth and exploration, we can make a connection with readers through our characters and the emotions they share with the reader.

How about you? What techniques have you used to engage your readers' emotions? Would you like to develop more emotion tools for your writer’s toolbox? Share your thoughts with us in the comments .

Using the following prompt, explore the palette of emotions the point of view or POV character might feel and express. Go ahead and start with the obvious, go-to emotions, but don’t stop there. Dig deeper and think about possible, unexpected emotions that might come, unbidden, to your character.

PROMPT: Jewel intercepts a message from her husband, intended for another woman, and discovers he is having an affair.

List down the emotions that come to mind. Then think harder, and jot down a few more. Pick one or two surprising emotions and use them to write a scene, layering them over and around the obvious emotion to create a richer reading experience.

Write for fifteen minutes . When you’re finished, post your work in the practice box , and don’t forget to provide feedback for your fellow writers!

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Joslyn Chase

Any day where she can send readers to the edge of their seats, prickling with suspense and chewing their fingernails to the nub, is a good day for Joslyn. Pick up her latest thriller, Steadman's Blind , an explosive read that will keep you turning pages to the end. No Rest: 14 Tales of Chilling Suspense , Joslyn's latest collection of short suspense, is available for free at joslynchase.com .

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94 Emotional Development Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Welcome to our list of emotional development essay topics! Whether you want to write about emotional intelligence or feelings, essay topics presented here will definitely inspire you. Besides, our catchy and emotional topics are suitable for university and high school students alike.

🏆 Best Emotional Development Topic Ideas & Essay Examples

📌 simple & easy emotional development essay titles, 👍 good essay topics on emotional development, ❓ research questions for emotional development, 🔥 emotional essay topics on emotional development.

• Personality and Emotional Development As such, the best qualities of the family environment that can positively contribute to the development of social-emotional skills in children include the following: Encouragement of initiatives and leadership skills in children can make them […]
• Physical, Cognitive, Social and Emotional Development The implication of the physical domain for children is in the ability to understand their physical capabilities and be aware of their health.
• Child’s Emotional Development in Caillou TV Show The main conclusion of the article is as follows: it is critical to make an effort to establish secure attachment between parents and children in order to avoid the development of RAD.
• Effects of Domestic Violence on Children’s Social and Emotional Development In the case of wife-husband violence, always, one parent will be the offender and the other one the victim; in an ideal situation, a child needs the love of a both parents. When brought up […]
• Physical, Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Development Analysis The constant change in the interests of children also requires educators to pay increased attention to the variety of classroom activities, as well as a constant change of focus.
• Imagination and Sexuality: Emotional Development in Preschoolers The article illustrates the theory with a description of the child’s behavior in a given period and recommendations for the behavior of caregivers.
• Emotional Development Among Adolescents With this kind of information in their hands they tend to be up-to-date with fashion and what’s in, in the social arena.
• Social Emotional Development of Gifted Children They can do this by setting up meetings with the children and their parents but most importantly, communication can be enhanced by listening to the gifted children and involving them in setting standards for themselves.
• Children’s Emotional Development and Media Influence The emotional development of a person is one of the fundamental aspects of human growth as it impacts his/her life, relations with other people, and the ability to cooperate with peers or colleagues.
• Child’s Cognitive and Socio-Emotional Development She is able to recognize the voice of the caregiver in the midst of other sounds in the room. She is very eager to respond to every sound that the caregiver makes and the composure […]
• Emotional Development and Emotional Intelligence This is based on the fact that emotional intelligence mostly comes from our environment and how we master the nature of occurrences in it.
• Parenting for Healthy Emotional Development The development of emotions gives one the ability to be empathetic to others, handle conflicts in the right way, and understand the importance of regulating emotions.
• The Development of Emotional Intelligence and Its Application According to them, EI is “the subset of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s […]
• Personality & Emotional Development in Children and Adolescents The creation of a positive social environment by the family can also lead to shaping of the children’s and adolescents’ capabilities for the future.
• Hangs Emotional Development And The Parallel Changes In Nature Illustrated In Huong’s Paradise Of The Blind
• Social and Emotional Development of Low Income Children
• Make-Believe Play And Social-Emotional Development
• The Social Emotional Development Of Early Childhood
• Developmental Psychology and Attention Social-emotional Development
• Romeo and Juliet’s Emotional Development in the Play
• The Bilingual Gap in Children’s Language and Emotional Development
• The Emotional Development Of Depression
• The Effect Of Child Abuse On The Emotional Development Of The Infant
• Effects Of Parent Child Dynamics On Emotional Development
• Early Childhood Abuse Affects Emotional Development of Child
• The Responsibilities of Adults for a Child’s Emotional Development
• Understanding Social and Emotional Development in Early Childhood
• Timeline for Social and Emotional Development
• Parental Support and Cognitive and Emotional Development
• Evaluate How Poverty Affects a Childs Social and Emotional Development
• The Effects of Technology on Our Happiness and Emotional Development
• Enhancing Emotional Development of Children with Dramatic
• The Effects Of Divorce On Children ‘s Emotional Development
• The Importance Of Games For The Social And Emotional Development Of Chil
• The Emotional Development Of Young Children
• Social Emotional Development And Challenging Behavior
• The Social and Emotional Development of Children
• The Importance of Social-Emotional Development in Our Lives According to Mindess, Chen, and Brenner
• How Technology Affects Our Emotional Development And Happiness
• Cognitive And Social Emotional Development Of John Bender
• The Psychology Of Childhood Social And Emotional Development
• The Role Of Attachment In Infancy Is Vital In Subsequent Emotional Development
• The Psychosocial Theory Of Social And Emotional Development
• The Nurturing Cirriculum For Socio Emotional Development
• The Effects Of Alternative Families On Social And Emotional Development
• Competency Statement to Support Social and Emotional Development and to Provide Positive Guidance
• Hangs Emotional Development and the Parallel Changes in Nature
• Language And Communication And Emotional Development Of Toddlers
• Play, Social-Emotional Development and Theory of Mind
• The Role of the Family in Regards to a Child’s Intellectual and Emotional Development
• Emotional Support Animals Effects on Social-Emotional Development of Children with Autism
• The Social And Emotional Development Of An Adolescent
• The Major Role and Influence of Teachers in the Educational, Social, and Emotional Development of Students
• The Role of Friends and Peers on Social and Emotional Development
• The Effects Of Down Syndrome On The Child’s Intellectual And Emotional Development
• Stages of Social-Emotional Development
• Strategies For Emotional Development
• Understanding the Social-Emotional Development of a Child
• The Effects Of Social And Emotional Development On Children
• What Is Emotional Development and Examples?
• How Did Erik Erikson Describe the Social and Emotional Development in Childhood?
• What Are the Three Parts of Emotional Development?
• Does Technology Affect Social-Emotional Development and Health of Kids?
• How Human Lifespan Develops during Emotional Development?
• What Is the Socio-Emotional Development of Maltreated Children?
• What Is Emotional Development in Child Development?
• How Pet Ownership Influence Youths’ Social-Emotional Development?
• How Technology Affects Our Emotional Development and Happiness?
• What Causes a Lack of Emotional Development?
• What Are the Gender Differences in Emotional Development?
• How Can I Improve My Child’s Emotional Development?
• What Is the Emotional Development in Children with Different Attachment Histories?
• What Activities Help Emotional Development?
• What Are the Signs of Emotional Development Issues?
• What Does Emotional Development Involve?
• How Does Emotional Development Affect Learning?
• What Are the Indicators of Emotional Development?
• What Connects Emotional Regulation and Emotional Development?
• What Are the Measures of Social and Emotional Development?
• What Is the Differential Emotions Theory of Early Emotional Development?
• Why Is There the Depressive Position in Normal Emotional Development?
• What Are the Emergent Themes in the Study of Emotional Development?
• What Are the Characteristics of the Emotional Development during Infancy?
• What Is the Social and Emotional Development of Gifted Children?
• Early Childhood Emotional Development
• Emotional Intelligence in Adolescence
• Emotional Development in Adulthood
• How Technology Impacts Emotional Growth
• Cultural Perspectives on Emotional Expression
• How to Manage and Express Emotions Effectively
• Nature vs. Nurture in Emotional Development
• The Role of Caregivers in Shaping Emotional Resilience
• The Importance of Secure Relationships on Emotional Development
• How Schools Foster Emotional Intelligence in Students
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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Emotion & Feeling, Essay Example

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Scientific Explanation of Emotions

Emotion is an adaptive form of psychological responses which regulate the feelings of an individual. Emotions are expressed extensively through facial expressions and posture, theater of the body, and other internal processes such as blood pressure and heart rate. These responses are transmitted back to the brain centers through humeral channels as well as neural channels, which bypass all neural signaling. Primary emotions such as happiness, anger, fear, surprise, disgust, and sadness that are related to experiences are expressed physically. On the contrary, some emotions can manifest themselves in an individual non-consciously.  For instance, an individual can expresses emotion before perceiving what is causing the response. Science explains that the response to emotions is automatic, and is largely determined by genes that respond to certain categories of situations.

Emotions such as agony, disgust, and solitude generate approach behavior or withdrawal behavior that has been declared as important tools of survival. These behaviors are inherited and are sorting for sorting out what is good or bad to help individuals preserve themselves. The administration of negative or positive reinforcement or withholding defines the emotion state of a person. This explanation intends to provide a platform for locating diverse emotions, their varying degrees of intensity and their independent dimensions. According to the view of classical behaviorism, scientists have come up with three stages in which human beings respond to different stimuli in their environment. The first stage is specified phylogenetically: genes are deployed to set goals (punishment or reward) to determine the direction in which organisms are expected to direct their emotions. The second stage comprises acquired and innate stimuli that distinguish the value of both basic and secondary reinforcing elements in reward associations. The last stage comprises experience-dependent instrumental knowledge of different methods of achieving goals through action-outcome learning.

The flexibility of instrumental learning emphasizes that emotions determine the resultant goals rather than the actions to achieve them. Cognitive factors and individual consciousness of goals and aspirations influence behavior and emotion. Many studies have shown that in normal human beings, the amygdala, brain centers for recognizing fear and agony, is activated when a person is expecting some grueling and traumatizing information. The brain records the signal that is conspicuously masked at conscious levels. Conversely, damaged amygdala in individuals may result in loss of ability to detect stimuli, which can be disastrous in their lives.

The Relationship between Chopin’s Story and Emotions

According to the case study provided, Mrs. Mallard is exhibiting emotional withdrawal. After receiving news of her husband’s death from her sister, she feels like she exists alone in her world and ponders in solitude. This can be seen through her inability to communicate her emotion state, and, as a result detaches form her sister to reflect on her past life with her husband. Her marriage comprised so many ups and down that her husband’s death seemed like a relief to her. From the explanation of her case, Mrs. Mallard is also suffering from emotional exhaustion due to the chaos related to her past marriage life. As a result, she lacks energy to share her downturns in life since she cannot recharge properly. She experiences immense agony that she feels that her sister and Richards, her husband’s best friend, cannot help. Although her agony is subsiding at the end, her health conditions also contribute towards acute depression.

From Mrs. Mallard’s health condition, her heart problems may have contributed to the destruction of certain sections of her frontal lobe which causes inability to accept negative outcomes. Despite maintaining her normal knowledge and intelligence, her emotional state does not operate effectively. Reasonably, she reflects on her past marriage life and identifies several mistakes that help her face the future consequences. Although she can think logically, her decision-making ability is compromised. Such individuals lose their emotional reactivity since they can longer sense shame, painful situations, or guilt. Their ability to feel emotions that are related to future consequences are no longer used to quantify different choices as either “potentially bad” or “potentially good.” She is clear when she thinks that she will weep at the sight of her husband in the casket. Additionally, she is very keen on her emotion state to repress her health state as well as the traumatizing news of her husband’s death. At the end, she is emotionally composed as she watches Josephine, her sister, crying relentlessly.

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How to Express Your Feelings: 30+ Emotional Expression Tips

Catharsis has since been used within the mental health field as a way of describing the practice of emotional expression, which is essential for communicating our needs, desires, and emotions (Brackett & Simmons, 2015).

Plus, being able to express one’s emotions is associated with various positive outcomes, such as increased adjustment to stressors (Moreno, Wiley, & Stanton, 2017), greater life satisfaction (Stanton, Kirk, Cameron, & Danoff-Burg, 2000), and increased psychological resilience (Eldeleklioglu & Yildiz, 2020).

This article will delve into the topic of healthy emotional expression, including tips on how to express your emotions, the downside of keeping things in, expression through art and writing, and much more.

With this plethora of resources, readers will be better able to reap the rewards of healthy emotional expression.

In times of joy, all of us wished we possessed a tail we could wag.

W. H. Auden

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Emotional Intelligence Exercises for free . These science-based exercises will enhance your ability to understand and work with your emotions and will also give you the tools to foster the emotional intelligence of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains:

Expressing your emotions in a healthy way: 16 tips, what happens when you don’t express your emotions, expressing emotions through art and writing, 8 techniques for expressing emotions in relationships, positivepsychology.com’s helpful resources, a take-home message.

While you may understand logically that healthy emotional expression is important, just exactly how to go about it isn’t always straightforward. Fortunately, there are many ways to facilitate healthy emotional expression; here are 18 tips:

1. Use positive self-talk

We all have an inner dialogue running through our heads, which is sometimes negative and counterproductive. If you have a negative inner dialogue , this is bound to make healthy self-expression difficult (Beck et al., 1979; Ingram & Wisnicki, 1988; Hiçdurmaz et al., 2017). Consider whether the messages in your head are damaging, and if so, work on ways to replace them with positive ones.

2. Be a good listener

It might be helpful to remember that…

“…we have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”

It is hurtful to feel unheard (Nichols, 2009), so listen to your family, friends, and coworkers and you will be in a far better position to respond with expressions of empathy and understanding.

3. Try spirituality

Mother Teresa said:

Joy is prayer; joy is strength; joy is love; joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.

Mother Teresa

Many others have also found strength in the self-transcendent emotions related to spirituality (Stellar et al., 2017; Haidt, 2003), and if you need an extra nudge in terms of expressing your emotions, it might help you too.

4. Teach emotion words to young children

Children often lack the language ability to express how they feel. By using tools such as faces conveying different emotions, children will be helped to understand the words for different emotions (Grosse et al., 2021; Streubel et al., 2020).

5. Practice empathy

Whether among family (Geiger et al., 2016), friends (Goleman, 2006), or coworkers (McKee et al., 2017), practicing empathy creates bonds that enable us to be emotionally in sync with others.

6. Model emotional expression

Children who see adults healthily express a range of emotions are more likely to follow suit (Corso, 2007). If you are someone who spends time with young people, show them what healthy emotional expression looks like.

Elbert Hubbard said:

The ineffable joy of forgiving and being forgiven forms an ecstasy that might well arouse the envy of the gods.

Elbert Hubbard

Whether you have not forgiven yourself or someone else, holding a grudge is the antithesis of expression. If you free yourself from resentment, you will open your heart and mind to positive expression Enright & Fitzgibbons, 2014; Toussaint & Webb, 2005; Karremans et al. 2003).

8. Practice acceptance

Happiness can exist only in acceptance.

George Orwell

Try to accept those aspects of your life that are out of your control. Doing so will make you feel better while freeing up your mind to become more emotionally expressive (Chapman et al., 2011; Linehan, 2014). For more on that, read our article on Radical Acceptance .

9. Play games with kids that promote emotional expression

Games are a fun and valuable approach for teaching children how to express themselves. For example, the Emotion Locomotion program for children ages 6–8 uses a train analogy to teach an array of emotions such as anger, sadness, and happiness (McLachlan et al., 2009).

10. Be grateful

Happiness is itself a kind of gratitude.

Joseph Wood Krutch

It is pretty hard to be unhappy while feeling thankful. Appreciate what you have and you will be better able to express a sense of joy (Emmons & Crumpler, 2000; Emmons & McCullough, 2003; Emmons & Stern, 2013).

11. Don’t postpone happiness – savor the moment

Many people will not allow themselves to be happy until they reach some sort of milestone (e.g., weight loss, job promotion, etc.). The moment for joy is NOW, and savoring pleasant experiences – big or small – has been associated with higher levels of subjective wellbeing (Smith & Bryant, 2017). Read more about the  benefits of positive emotions .

12. Try something new

If you are having trouble expressing your feelings, perhaps you are in a rut. Getting out of your comfort zone often leads to greater emotional expression and wellbeing (Heller et al., 2020).

13. Take a risk

Emotional expression equals risk; it means you are putting yourself in the position of potential rejection. But meaningful conversations and relationships require such risk. So, take a chance and you will be rewarded (Brown, 2015).

14. Be optimistic

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

Helen Keller

By focusing on the positive, you will find it easier to express yourself in a range of situations while enjoying the many wonders of life (Seligman, 2006).

15. Do some gardening

In search of my mother’s garden, I found my own.

Alice Walker

Gardening is like art; there are endless lovely plants and flowers from which to express your creativity. And besides, who knows what you might find within yourself (Lumber et al., 2017)?

16. Practice mindfulness

Whether in the form of meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises, mindfulness has been found to promote optimism, happiness, positive emotional states, and self-acceptance (Amutio et al., 2015). Each of these outcomes aids in the promotion of emotional expression.

Are there universal expressions of emotion? – Sophie Zadeh

Feelings or emotions are the universal language and are to be honored. They are the authentic expression of who you are in your deepest place.

Judith Wright

Keeping things in is indeed a bad idea. While this notion makes intuitive sense, it is also supported by research. Here are 13 notable examples:

• Women who suppressed emotions during an experimental study were found to have increased blood pressure (Butler et al., 2003).
• In a study of emotion regulation , those who suppressed their feelings experienced less positive and more negative emotions (Gross & John, 2003).
• In a study in which participants either expressed or suppressed emotions following a disgusting film, those who suppressed their feelings experienced relatively increased cardiovascular activation (Roberts, Levenson, & Gross, 2008).
• In a 12-year prospective study, emotional suppression was related to a significantly greater risk of both cancer and cardiovascular disease mortality (Chapman, Fiscella, Kawachi, Duberstein, & Muennig, 2013).
• In a comprehensive meta-analysis by Chervonsky and Hunt (2017), emotion suppression was related to poorer relationship quality , lower social satisfaction , lower social support , more negative first impressions , and lower social wellbeing .
• In a preliminary study, adult male participants who suppressed their emotions after watching a distressing film clip experienced greater distress and increased heart rate (Tull, Jakupcak, & Roemer, 2010).
• In a study comparing individuals diagnosed with major depression versus healthy controls, suppression of both negative and positive emotions was associated with increased depressive symptoms among depressed individuals (Beblo et al., 2012).
• Campbell-Sills, Barlow, Brown, and Hofmann (2006) found that emotion suppression after watching an emotion-provoking film was related to increased negative emotions among individuals suffering from anxiety and mood disorders.
• In an experiment in which participants gave a speech in front of a camera, those who suppressed their emotions experienced more anxiety and increased heart rate (Hofmann, Heering, Sawyer, & Asnaani, 2009).
• Quartana and Burns (2007) conducted a study in which participants experienced a mental arithmetic task with or without harassment followed by a cold-presser experience (i.e., dipping a person’s hand in very cold water). Those in the suppression group reported greater pain levels .
• In their review of the aggression and emotion regulation literature , Roberton, Daffern, and Bucks (2012) reported that under-regulation of emotion was associated with an increased probability of aggression .
• In an investigation using a daily diary method to assess positive and negative mood, those who suppressed their emotions experienced higher negative affect and lower positive affect (Brockman, Ciarrochi, Parker, & Kashdan, 2016).
• In a study comparing clinically depressed, formerly depressed, and never-depressed participants, all groups were presented with an affective priming task. Among the formerly depressed group, emotion suppression was related to increased depressive symptoms (Joormann & Gotlib, 2010).

Download 3 Free Emotional Intelligence Exercises (PDF)

These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients understand and use emotions advantageously.

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By filling out your name and email address below.

Wherever the soul is in need, art presents itself as a resourceful healer.

McNiff, 2004, p. 5

Art therapy is often used by mental health practitioners to deal with a range of issues such as coping with trauma, addiction, learning disabilities, and other medical and psychological problems (Malchiodi, 2012).

The general population may also enjoy many mental health benefits, including emotional expression, from engaging in writing, as well as other artistic endeavors. Five ways of using creativity to express oneself are presented below.

Regardless of your skills, writing is an effective way to express emotions and communicate with others. For example, in a study by Barclay and Skarlicki (2009), participants were placed in one of the following four groups:

• Writing about emotions
• Writing about thoughts
• Writing about emotions and thoughts regarding an injustice
• Writing about a trivial topic

Those who wrote about their emotions and thoughts were higher in terms of psychological wellbeing and personal resolution than the other groups (Barclay & Skarlicki, 2009).

Similarly, writing about traumatic events has been associated with greater physical and psychological outcomes among both clinical and non-clinical samples (Baikie & Wilhelm, 2005). Along these lines, creating narratives about emotional situations has been linked with a variety of positive psychological outcomes  (Niederhoffer & Pennebaker, 2009).

Whether you prefer journaling, storytelling, or some other type of writing, go for it – it is bound to make you feel better.

Drawing is another fun and easy way to express emotions and embrace happiness. Not surprisingly, research has found that drawing to either express positive emotions or vent stress is related to enhanced mood  (Smolarski, Leone, & Robbins, 2015).

Handling clay is another enjoyable activity that has been associated with enhanced mood  (Kimport & Robbins, 2012). Often used as a tool in art therapy, clay handling is associated with many positive therapeutic outcomes such as enhanced emotional expression , verbal communication , and catharsis  (Sholt & Gavron, 2006).

4. Collages

You may recall gathering magazines and using glue to put together collages during elementary school. However, this fun activity is not just for kids. Indeed, creating collages is a terrific way for people of all ages to express feelings that are difficult to convey verbally (Buchalter, 2011).

Moreover, this activity has been associated with enhanced problem-solving and decision-making skills , communication , and socialization  among seniors (Buchalter, 2011).

5. Mandalas

Mandalas are beautiful geometric shapes that may be drawn or colored to promote a sense of calm. Mandalas were first used as a therapeutic tool by Carl Jung (Henderson, Rosen, & Mascaro, 2007) and have since been used by therapists and laypeople alike.

The benefits of creating mandalas are supported by research. For example, drawing mandalas has been related to decreases in trauma-related symptoms among individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (Henderson et al., 2007).

Nonetheless, sometimes individuals need a little help letting their feelings out. Here are eight research-supported ways in which relationships may be improved through the healthy expression of emotions:

1. Mindfulness

Mindfulness involves paying attention to one’s feelings and thoughts in the moment and without judgment (Kabat-Zinn, 2005). Mindfulness meditation has also been used as a way to enhance relationship quality and satisfaction.

For example, Carson, Carson, Gil, and Baucom (2004) conducted a mindfulness meditation retreat with healthy couples. They found that mindfulness was related to a whole host of long-term positive outcomes such as greater closeness , acceptance of each other , optimism , relaxation , relatedness , and relationship happiness .

Given these findings, couples in either healthy or challenging relationships may well benefit from the use of mindfulness techniques as a way to foster emotional connectedness, expression, and overall relationship satisfaction.

2. Expression of negative emotions

All types of relationships inevitably require the expression of negative emotions. When feelings of resentment, frustration, anger, and disappointment are suppressed, they may explode later and cause great damage to relationships.

For example, Graham, Huang, Clark, and Helgeson (2008) looked at the effects of the expression of negative emotions on relationship outcomes among college students. They reported that negative emotional expression was related to greater intimacy , the formation of more relationships , and increased support .

Of course, expressing negative emotions may be hurtful if done thoughtlessly. Therefore, whether relationships are among intimate partners, friendships, or coworkers, take a deep breath before expressing negative feelings and communicate them with tact, empathy, and sensitivity.

3. Use positive psychology activities

O’Connell, O’Shea, and Gallagher (2017) used a longitudinal design to explore the impact of positive psychology activities on relationship satisfaction. More specifically, participants were assigned to a relationship-focused gratitude activity , a relationship-focused kindness activity, a self-focused activity, or a control condition.

Both of the relationship-focused activities were related to significant improvements in relationship satisfaction . By expressing kindness (e.g., giving a compliment, doing a favor, giving a thoughtful gift) or gratitude (e.g., giving praise or thanking someone), the quality of various types of relationships is likely to be improved.

4. Try the Gottman methods

John Gottman and Julie Gottman (2008) have created a range of relationship-enhancing methods that, over three decades of research, have been associated with numerous positive relationship outcomes (Gottman & Gottman, 2008). Here are five of their proven strategies:

• Build love maps. This involves showing an active interest in a partner’s feelings and needs. The Gottmans suggest using a ‘Love Map Card Deck’ to help express difficult emotions such as confusion and frustration.
• Build a culture of appreciation. Sometimes individuals feel gratitude for their partner, but forget to say so. This approach involves actively showing appreciation for one’s partner by thanking them, which Gottman describes as “cultivating a positive habit of mind” (Gottman & Gottman, 2008, p. 153).
• Turn toward bids. The Gottmans describe bids as “verbal or nonverbal requests for connection” (Gottman & Gottman, 2008, p. 153). This basically involves building an emotional bank account by asking one’s partner what they need and responding positively.
• Emotion coaching. This involves taking a partner’s ‘emotional temperature’ by checking in to see how they are doing.
• Building positive affect. The Gottmans believe that building positive feelings in relationships promotes intimacy and positive feelings. They suggest prioritizing a number of ‘ positive affect systems ’ into relationships to promote humor, curiosity, play, comfort, and curiosity.

17 Exercises To Develop Emotional Intelligence

These 17 Emotional Intelligence Exercises [PDF] will help others strengthen their relationships, lower stress, and enhance their wellbeing through improved EQ.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

At PositivePsychology.com, we offer various useful tools aimed at expressing healthy emotions; here are two examples:

1. Fostering Empathy Reflectively

This tool is designed for social workers but can be a great way to help clients develop the skill of reading each other’s emotional expressions. It involves a few activities and reflection prompts, for example:

• Watch an emotional scene in a film or drama between two to four characters.
• Now, reflect on how the characters behaved and the feelings they may have experienced.
• Write down how you think each character felt.
• Write down what you think motivated each character.

This exercise fosters empathy and understanding, which ultimately promote stronger relationships.

2. Emotional Expression Checklist

This tool is designed to promote adaptive emotional expression by helping clients reflect on their context before they express how they feel.

Clients are invited to consider their intended outcomes, the potential impact of expressing themselves on the other person, and how their intentions align with their values.

3. 17 Emotional Intelligence Exercises

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others develop emotional intelligence, this collection contains 17 validated EI tools for practitioners. Use them to help others understand and use their emotions to their advantage.

Gandhi believed that

“happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

Gandhi understood the importance of emotional expression. Consistent with his teachings, the ability to express how we feel is associated with numerous physical, emotional, and psychological benefits.

Therefore, if you find yourself feeling pent up, there is good reason to let those feelings out in a healthy way. And in doing so, you are sure to experience enhanced relationships, serenity, and contentment.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Emotional Intelligence Exercises for free .

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I endured 30+ years of trauma. I was not permitted to express tears, whimpers, could say nothing about the trauma, etc. Today, I so need to express myself about the feelings of my past and yet, I can’t do it. I am too frightened to let it out and to be vulnerable to another person. What do I do? I have done the drawing and writing.

I’m truly sorry for what you’ve been through. It’s brave to seek ways to express and heal.

When you’re ready, a therapist specialized in trauma can provide a safe space for gradual healing, using methods like CBT or EMDR to help you navigate your journey at your own pace. You can find a directory of licensed therapists here , with an option to adjust the search based on your location.

Remember, healing takes time, and it’s okay to go slow.

Warm regards, Julia | Community Manager

I’ve been trying to find ways to communicate on family issues and have found vital scientific based information to proceed. 🙏

BRILLIANT!!!! WHAT AN AMAZING RESOURCE. THANK YOU

I’ve always found difficulty expressing my thoughts and feelings to others. I can’t seem to carry a conversation and focus on a subject without having to drift into a maze and eventually losing sight of the subject discussion…Frustrating!!!…I hope to improve after reading these tips.

Wonderful article!! Thank you!

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That yearning feeling: why we need nostalgia

Often misused by politicians, nostalgia is a positive emotion that could do with a makeover

I have always been prone to homesickness. As a child, I didn’t really enjoy holidays, I dreaded going away on school trips and I hated sleepovers. At the beginning of 2021, when I first started thinking about the history of nostalgia, and in the midst of the pandemic, I moved across the Atlantic from London to Montreal, Canada, for work. Far from home and away from my family and friends, I felt a kind of grief whenever I thought about the life I’d left behind. There was so much to love about my new life but I felt anxious, worrying constantly about the safety and wellbeing of my parents, siblings and friends. What if, due to the time difference, I missed an urgent call or woke up to terrible news? These fears were, of course, unfounded, and they were also ridiculous, childish even. Grownups – married 30-year-olds with mortgages and full-time jobs – shouldn’t miss their mums.

I also tend to be homesick in a weirder, more abstract way – homesick for somewhere I’ve never been. It’s a feeling otherwise known as nostalgia. Melding fairytales with Horrible Histories , as a child I spent hours imagining myself transported back in time to invented and romanticised versions of the past. I was an avid reader of Enid Blyton’s novels and, despite my homesick inclinations, begged my parents to divert me from my 1990s London primary school to a boarding school in 1950s Cornwall. My pleas went unanswered, so I went to my uniform-free state school every day in pleated skirts and white blouses, desperate to return to a world I’d never inhabited.

Growing up, I cut these emotional ties to the past, and history and I developed a new, much more cynical relationship. I did a few history degrees and became hardened to the past – a steely, objective academic who avoided sentimentality. Professional historians tend to have a low opinion of nostalgia and, at first, I absorbed this view. Nostalgia is, for many academics, a hallmark of history amateurs – more the preserve of re-enactors, hobbyists and popularisers. By contrast, we’re supposed to be able to focus a critical lens on the past, see it for what it is, warts and all.

In my personal life, I also became less nostalgic. I like to think of myself as politically progressive and I’m certainly an optimist. But despite holding these lofty ideas about myself, I still sometimes found myself languishing in the romanticism of the past, allowing myself a bit of nostalgia now and again, as a treat.

I’m slightly embarrassed of this because, even outside academia, nostalgia has a poor reputation. For many, it is a fundamentally (small-c) conservative emotion, one held by people unwilling to engage with modern life – the proverbial ostriches with their heads in the sand. It is, according to sociologist Yiannis Gabriel, “The latest opiate of the people.” At best, a mostly harmless condition experienced by antiquarians and sentimentalists. At worst, a kind of reactionary delusion, one blamed for a range of perceived social and political sins. But nostalgia used to be even worse. And you don’t need to travel that far back in time to find it listed as a cause of protracted illness, or even death. In the premodern world, it had the capacity to kill.

Nostalgia was first coined as a term and used as a diagnosis in 1688, by Swiss physician Johannes Hofer. Derived from the Greek nostos (homecoming) and algos (pain), this mysterious disease was a kind of pathological homesickness. It caused lethargy, depression and disturbed sleep. Sufferers also experienced physical symptoms – heart palpitations, open sores, and confusion. For some, the illness proved fatal – its victims refused food and slowly starved to death. In the 1830s, a Parisian man was threatened with eviction from his cherished home. He took to his bed, turned his face to the wall and refused to eat, drink or see his friends. Eventually he died, succumbing to a “profound sadness” and a “raging fever” just hours before his house was due to be demolished. His diagnosis? Nostalgia.

As the 20th century dawned, nostalgia loosened its grip on the medical mind, parted ways with homesickness and morphed into, first, a psychological disorder and, then, into the relatively benign emotion we know today. While they no longer considered nostalgia a physical sickness, early psychoanalysts still had little patience for the nostalgics they encountered on their couches. They accused people with nostalgic tendencies of being neurotic and unwilling or unable to face reality. Much like many political commentators today, they were snobbish, arguing that the middle classes were less likely to be nostalgic than “lower-class” or “tradition-bound” people.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that these views softened. Today, psychologists believe nostalgia is a near-universal, fundamentally positive emotion – a powerful psychological resource that provides people with a variety of benefits. It can boost self-esteem, increase meaning in life, foster a sense of social connectedness, encourage people to seek help and support for their problems, improve mental health and attenuate loneliness, boredom, stress or anxiety. Nostalgia is even now used as an intervention to maintain and improve memory among older adults, enrich psychological health and ameliorate depression.

Nostalgia is now supposed to be pleasurable for the individual experiencing it, but its reputation as an influence on politics and society is not so honeyed. Populist movements worldwide are repeatedly criticised for their use and abuse of nostalgia. The images these movements paint of the past are condemned for being overly white and overly male. It’s also seen as the preserve of those who are retrograde, conservative and sentimental. Writers lambast those who voted for Trump and Brexit for their nostalgic tendencies and it remains, strangely, a kind of diagnosis – an explanation for what the critic sees as wayward or irrational acts. As the historian Robert Saunders put it, in reference to Brexit, the prevailing rhetoric marked out the Leave vote as, “a psychological disorder: a pathology to be diagnosed, rather than argument with which to engage”.

This tendency is as widespread as it is strange. Not least because nostalgia is a feature of leftwing political life, just as it is of conservatism and populism – think of the NHS, for example. It is also strange because, if you take present-day psychology seriously, everyone is nostalgic, pretty much all the time.

Most experts agree nostalgia is a predominantly positive emotion that arises from personally salient, tender and wistful memories. And nostalgia is more than just benign; it can be actively therapeutic. As one psychologist put it, during moments of nostalgic reflection the mind is “peopled”. The emotion affirms symbolic ties with friends, lovers and families; the closest others come to being “momentarily part of one’s present”. People with nostalgic tendencies feel more loved and protected, have reduced anxiety, are more likely to have secure attachments and are even supposed to have better social skills.

Maybe I’d have felt less unhappy if I’d spent more of my time abroad indulging in nostalgia. Rather than wallowing in sadness and thinking of all the people I wasn’t with, I could have used those memories to remind me that I have friends and family to miss.At the very least, knowing more about the emotion and its history might have enabled me to disentangle my feelings from the assumptions I’ve held about what normal, appropriate emotional responses to change are supposed to look like.

The process of researching nostalgia shifted my intellectual relationship to emotions. Society as a whole, and especially academia, tends to see emotions as irritants. There is now a certain degree of cultural pressure to talk about feelings and to acknowledge trauma and distress publicly (a bit like I’m doing here) and seek help and support when unhappy, anxious, or depressed. But at the same time, some emotional responses are still seen as more appropriate or adult than others; and political and professional decisions seen to be driven by feelings are still taken less seriously than those deemed motivated by reason, rationality or research. As a historian, I’m keen on research. But as a historian of emotions, I’m also keen on feelings. I’m interested in their variety, curious about their range and I take their power seriously. Nostalgia could do with a makeover – it needs rescuing from its associations with the sick, the stupid and the sentimental.

Because the emotion is everywhere, a source of both pain and pleasure, and it explains so much about modern life. Expressions of nostalgia are one way we communicate a desire for the past, dissatisfaction about the present, and, perhaps paradoxically, our visions for the future. Progressive, as well as conservative; not just stultifying, it’s creative, too. Homesickness also needs to be treated with more respect. In its harmful, pathological forms, it must be taken more seriously. And even in its more benign manifestations, like mine, we should see it for what it is. Not as a contaminant, nor a thing that gets in the way of us living our lives, but as evidence for deep feeling – for connection and commitment. Proof that we love and are loved in return.

Nostalgia: A History of a Dangerous Emotion by Agnes Arnold-Forster is published by Picador at £22. Buy a copy for £18.70 at guardianbookshop.com

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Writing Anxiety

What this handout is about.

This handout discusses the situational nature of writer’s block and other writing anxiety and suggests things you can try to feel more confident and optimistic about yourself as a writer.

What are writing anxiety and writer’s block?

“Writing anxiety” and “writer’s block” are informal terms for a wide variety of apprehensive and pessimistic feelings about writing. These feelings may not be pervasive in a person’s writing life. For example, you might feel perfectly fine writing a biology lab report but apprehensive about writing a paper on a novel. You may confidently tackle a paper about the sociology of gender but delete and start over twenty times when composing an email to a cute classmate to suggest a coffee date. In other words, writing anxiety and writers’ block are situational (Hjortshoj 7). These terms do NOT describe psychological attributes. People aren’t born anxious writers; rather, they become anxious or blocked through negative or difficult experiences with writing.

When do these negative feelings arise?

Although there is a great deal of variation among individuals, there are also some common experiences that writers in general find stressful.

For example, you may struggle when you are:

• adjusting to a new form of writing—for example, first year college writing, papers in a new field of study, or longer forms than you are used to (a long research paper, a senior thesis, a master’s thesis, a dissertation) (Hjortshoj 56-76).
• writing for a reader or readers who have been overly critical or demanding in the past.
• remembering negative criticism received in the past—even if the reader who criticized your work won’t be reading your writing this time.
• working with limited time or with a lot of unstructured time.
• responding to an assignment that seems unrelated to academic or life goals.
• dealing with troubling events outside of school.

What are some strategies for handling these feelings?

Get support.

Choose a writing buddy, someone you trust to encourage you in your writing life. Your writing buddy might be a friend or family member, a classmate, a teacher, a colleague, or a Writing Center tutor. Talk to your writing buddy about your ideas, your writing process, your worries, and your successes. Share pieces of your writing. Make checking in with your writing buddy a regular part of your schedule. When you share pieces of writing with your buddy, use our handout on asking for feedback .

In his book Understanding Writing Blocks, Keith Hjortshoj describes how isolation can harm writers, particularly students who are working on long projects not connected with coursework (134-135). He suggests that in addition to connecting with supportive individuals, such students can benefit from forming or joining a writing group, which functions in much the same way as a writing buddy. A group can provide readers, deadlines, support, praise, and constructive criticism. For help starting one, see our handout about writing groups .

Identify your strengths

Often, writers who are experiencing block or anxiety have a worse opinion of their own writing than anyone else! Make a list of the things you do well. You might ask a friend or colleague to help you generate such a list. Here are some possibilities to get you started:

• I explain things well to people.
• I get people’s interest.
• I have strong opinions.
• I listen well.
• I am critical of what I read.
• I see connections.

Choose at least one strength as your starting point. Instead of saying “I can’t write,” say “I am a writer who can …”

Recognize that writing is a complex process

Writing is an attempt to fix meaning on the page, but you know, and your readers know, that there is always more to be said on a topic. The best writers can do is to contribute what they know and feel about a topic at a particular point in time.

Writers often seek “flow,” which usually entails some sort of breakthrough followed by a beautifully coherent outpouring of knowledge. Flow is both a possibility—most people experience it at some point in their writing lives—and a myth. Inevitably, if you write over a long period of time and for many different situations, you will encounter obstacles. As Hjortshoj explains, obstacles are particularly common during times of transition—transitions to new writing roles or to new kinds of writing.

Think of yourself as an apprentice.

If block or apprehension is new for you, take time to understand the situations you are writing in. In particular, try to figure out what has changed in your writing life. Here are some possibilities:

• You are writing in a new format.
• You are writing longer papers than before.
• You are writing for new audiences.
• You are writing about new subject matter.
• You are turning in writing from different stages of the writing process—for example, planning stages or early drafts.

It makes sense to have trouble when dealing with a situation for the first time. It’s also likely that when you confront these new situations, you will learn and grow. Writing in new situations can be rewarding. Not every format or audience will be right for you, but you won’t know which ones might be right until you try them. Think of new writing situations as apprenticeships. When you’re doing a new kind of writing, learn as much as you can about it, gain as many skills in that area as you can, and when you finish the apprenticeship, decide which of the skills you learned will serve you well later on. You might be surprised.

Below are some suggestions for how to learn about new kinds of writing:

• Ask a lot of questions of people who are more experienced with this kind of writing. Here are some of the questions you might ask: What’s the purpose of this kind of writing? Who’s the audience? What are the most important elements to include? What’s not as important? How do you get started? How do you know when what you’ve written is good enough? How did you learn to write this way?
• Ask a lot of questions of the person who assigned you a piece of writing. If you have a paper, the best place to start is with the written assignment itself. For help with this, see our handout on understanding assignments .
• Look for examples of this kind of writing. (You can ask your instructor for a recommended example). Look, especially, for variation. There are often many different ways to write within a particular form. Look for ways that feel familiar to you, approaches that you like. You might want to look for published models or, if this seems too intimidating, look at your classmates’ writing. In either case, ask yourself questions about what these writers are doing, and take notes. How does the writer begin and end? In what order does the writer tell things? How and when does the writer convey their main point? How does the writer bring in other people’s ideas? What is the writer’s purpose? How is that purpose achieved?
• Read our handouts about how to write in specific fields or how to handle specific writing assignments.
• Listen critically to your readers. Before you dismiss or wholeheartedly accept what they say, try to understand them. If a reader has given you written comments, ask yourself questions to figure out the reader’s experience of your paper: What is this reader looking for? What am I doing that satisfies this reader? In what ways is this reader still unsatisfied? If you can’t answer these questions from the reader’s comments, then talk to the reader, or ask someone else to help you interpret the comments.
• Most importantly, don’t try to do everything at once. Start with reasonable expectations. You can’t write like an expert your first time out. Nobody does! Use the criticism you get.

Once you understand what readers want, you are in a better position to decide what to do with their criticisms. There are two extreme possibilities—dismissing the criticisms and accepting them all—but there is also a lot of middle ground. Figure out which criticisms are consistent with your own purposes, and do the hard work of engaging with them. Again, don’t expect an overnight turn-around; recognize that changing writing habits is a process and that papers are steps in the process.

Chances are that at some point in your writing life you will encounter readers who seem to dislike, disagree with, or miss the point of your work. Figuring out what to do with criticism from such readers is an important part of a writer’s growth.

Try new tactics when you get stuck

Often, writing blocks occur at particular stages of the writing process. The writing process is cyclical and variable. For different writers, the process may include reading, brainstorming, drafting, getting feedback, revising, and editing. These stages do not always happen in this order, and once a writer has been through a particular stage, chances are they haven’t seen the last of that stage. For example, brainstorming may occur all along the way.

Figure out what your writing process looks like and whether there’s a particular stage where you tend to get stuck. Perhaps you love researching and taking notes on what you read, and you have a hard time moving from that work to getting started on your own first draft. Or once you have a draft, it seems set in stone and even though readers are asking you questions and making suggestions, you don’t know how to go back in and change it. Or just the opposite may be true; you revise and revise and don’t want to let the paper go.

Wherever you have trouble, take a longer look at what you do and what you might try. Sometimes what you do is working for you; it’s just a slow and difficult process. Other times, what you do may not be working; these are the times when you can look around for other approaches to try:

• Talk to your writing buddy and to other colleagues about what they do at the particular stage that gets you stuck.
• Read about possible new approaches in our handouts on brainstorming and revising .
• Try thinking of yourself as an apprentice to a stage of the writing process and give different strategies a shot.
• Cut your paper into pieces and tape them to the wall, use eight different colors of highlighters, draw a picture of your paper, read your paper out loud in the voice of your favorite movie star….

Okay, we’re kind of kidding with some of those last few suggestions, but there is no limit to what you can try (for some fun writing strategies, check out our online animated demos ). When it comes to conquering a block, give yourself permission to fall flat on your face. Trying and failing will you help you arrive at the thing that works for you.

Celebrate your successes

Start storing up positive experiences with writing. Whatever obstacles you’ve faced, celebrate the occasions when you overcome them. This could be something as simple as getting started, sharing your work with someone besides a teacher, revising a paper for the first time, trying out a new brainstorming strategy, or turning in a paper that has been particularly challenging for you. You define what a success is for you. Keep a log or journal of your writing successes and breakthroughs, how you did it, how you felt. This log can serve as a boost later in your writing life when you face new challenges.

Wait a minute, didn’t we already say that? Yes. It’s worth repeating. Most people find relief for various kinds of anxieties by getting support from others. Sometimes the best person to help you through a spell of worry is someone who’s done that for you before—a family member, a friend, a mentor. Maybe you don’t even need to talk with this person about writing; maybe you just need to be reminded to believe in yourself, that you can do it.

If you don’t know anyone on campus yet whom you have this kind of relationship with, reach out to someone who seems like they could be a good listener and supportive. There are a number of professional resources for you on campus, people you can talk through your ideas or your worries with. A great place to start is the UNC Writing Center. If you know you have a problem with writing anxiety, make an appointment well before the paper is due. You can come to the Writing Center with a draft or even before you’ve started writing. You can also approach your instructor with questions about your writing assignment. If you’re an undergraduate, your academic advisor and your residence hall advisor are other possible resources. Counselors at Counseling and Wellness Services are also available to talk with you about anxieties and concerns that extend beyond writing.

Apprehension about writing is a common condition on college campuses. Because writing is the most common means of sharing our knowledge, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves when we write. This handout has given some suggestions for how to relieve that pressure. Talk with others; realize we’re all learning; take an occasional risk; turn to the people who believe in you. Counter negative experiences by actively creating positive ones.

Even after you have tried all of these strategies and read every Writing Center handout, invariably you will still have negative experiences in your writing life. When you get a paper back with a bad grade on it or when you get a rejection letter from a journal, fend off the negative aspects of that experience. Try not to let them sink in; try not to let your disappointment fester. Instead, jump right back in to some area of the writing process: choose one suggestion the evaluator has made and work on it, or read and discuss the paper with a friend or colleague, or do some writing or revising—on this or any paper—as quickly as possible.

Failures of various kinds are an inevitable part of the writing process. Without them, it would be difficult if not impossible to grow as a writer. Learning often occurs in the wake of a startling event, something that stirs you up, something that makes you wonder. Use your failures to keep moving.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Hjortshoj, Keith. 2001. Understanding Writing Blocks . New York: Oxford University Press.

This is a particularly excellent resource for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. Hjortshoj writes about his experiences working with university students experiencing block. He explains the transitional nature of most writing blocks and the importance of finding support from others when working on long projects.

Rose, Mike. 1985. When a Writer Can’t Write: Studies in Writer’s Block and Other Composing-Process Problems . New York: Guilford.

This collection of empirical studies is written primarily for writing teachers, researchers, and tutors. Studies focus on writers of various ages, including young children, high school students, and college students.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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3 Expert-Backed Ways to Convey Your Emotions through Writing

Last Updated: January 12, 2024 References

• Processing Your Emotions
• Creative Formating
• Describing Your Emotions

This article was co-authored by Nicole Moshfegh, PsyD . Dr. Nicole Moshfegh is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Author based in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Moshfegh specializes in multicultural competence and treating patients with mood and anxiety disorders and insomnia. She holds a BA in Psychology and Social Behavior from The University of California, Irvine (UCI), and an MA and Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) from Pepperdine University. Dr. Moshfegh completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Additionally, she is a member of the American Psychological Association, National Register of Health Service Psychologists, Los Angeles County Psychological Association, and Collaborative Family Healthcare Association. Dr. Moshfegh is also the best-selling author of "The Book of Sleep: 75 Strategies to Relieve Insomnia". There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 84,334 times.

Sometimes it can be hard to find the right words when you're talking about your feelings out loud. Writing them down is a great alternative! You could start keeping a journal, which has many benefits including stress relief. Creative writing is also a great emotional outlet, and you can express your feelings in a poem or song. If you want to express your feelings to someone else, try crafting a thoughtfully worded letter. These methods are all helpful, so choose the one that feels right and get started!

Things You Should Know

• Don’t worry about how it sounds; write about how you feel. You don’t have to follow any writing conventions—just let it all out in whatever way feels best to you. [1] X Research source
• Write about how you wish the situation could've gone. What would you have done differently if you had the chance to do it all over again?
• Make time to write every day. The more you sit down to express your emotions, the easier and more natural it will become!

Journaling to Process Your Emotions

• Don't worry about errors. Turn off the spell check feature if it's distracting you.

• For example, maybe you want to write about a fight you just had with your best friend. You can note what you talked about and then explain that the fight left you feeling like you weren't being valued. Both of you walked away without resolution. In your new version, write what you wish you had said differently. Maybe you could write that you convinced your friend to listen to you and you came to an understanding.

• You could select a quote such as this one from Dr. Joyce Brothers: "A strong positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success." [6] X Research source You could then write about how you've been feeling less confident lately and how that's been impacting your performance at work.
• After processing these feelings, you could use that as a springboard to write about ways that you can improve your self-image .

• What are some of the reasons I love Riley so much?
• Why do presentations make me nervous?
• How come I feel so much better after yoga?

• You could write, “Helen felt really frustrated today at work. She felt like it wasn't fair when her boss ignored her contributions at the meeting.”

• You don't have to devote large amounts of time to writing. Even 5 minutes a day help!
• Don't force yourself to write. If you really aren't feeling up to it, don't write that day. No one's judging you.

• Keeping an electronic journal is also a great choice. Try using a program such as Google docs that will save your work automatically. You can also access it from any device.

• Don't feel like you have to share your writing with anyone. It's totally fine to keep it private.

• A comfy chair in a corner of your home might feel right to you. You could also head to a nearby park for some fresh air while you write.

Using Other Creative Formats to Express Your Feelings

• Maybe you're going through a tough breakup. Write a story about someone else who is dealing with that.

• For example, maybe you've had an argument with an old friend. Come up with a character that is going through the same thing. You could create a dialogue of your character talking to their “fictional” friend.
• Don't be afraid to have a little fun with this! Maybe you've always wanted to travel the world. Let your character do that while experiencing “their” emotions.

• For example, your character could say something like, "Hey, it really bothers me when you're always late. It makes me feel like you don't value me. What gives?"

• Choose 1 emotion to focus on and shape your poem around that. For example, you could create a poem about feeling lonely.
• You can create multiple poems as you work through your feelings.

• Maybe you are newly in love. You can write verses about your first date, that fluttery feeling in your stomach, and feeling excited. Your chorus could be about not being able to wait to see that special someone again.

Describing Your Feelings to Someone Else

• Maybe you want to let your partner know that you would like to spend more time together. You might write down things like, “date-nights, no cell phones after 9 p.m., nightly dinner.”
• You might want to explain to your boss why you feel you deserve a raise. Your notes might include, “needing a new challenge, want to feel valued.”

• Instead of writing, “I must inform you that your recent behavior is causing me undue stress,” just say, “I've been feeling really upset about our last conversation.”

• For example, you could write to your partner, “I feel like you interrupt me whenever I try to talk to you about our relationship.”
• If you're writing to your boss, you could say, “I feel like I deserve the opportunity to take on more responsibility.”
• The body of the letter can be as long or as short as you like. Even a paragraph or 2 can help you get your point across.

• For example, write, “I feel like I have earned a raise.” “I feel like I have earned a raise!” might seem aggressive.
• Also try to avoid using a lot of bold font or italics. These can also make your reader feel defensive.

• If this is a very personal letter, try putting it away for a day. You can come back to it the next day and look at it with fresh eyes.
• You might feel better after writing and decide you don't need to send the letter. In that case, don't worry about editing!

Expert Q&A

• If you are angry, try writing a letter to the person who hurt you. You don't have to send it in order to feel better! Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• Don't worry about making your writing perfect. It's fine to just write however you want. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/healtharticle.7-benefits-of-keeping-a-journal
• ↑ Nicole Moshfegh, PsyD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 5 August 2021.
• ↑ https://puckermob.com/moblog/how-to-express-your-feelings-on-paper/
• ↑ https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/news/a23178/dr-joyce-brothers-best-advice-quotes/
• ↑ https://blogs.psychcentral.com/everyday-creativity/2016/09/5-ways-to-process-your-emotions-through-writing/
• ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentID=4552&ContentTypeID=1
• ↑ https://www.tunedly.com/blogpost?blog=WritingSongLyricsSimplified
• ↑ https://www.themindfulword.org/2015/journal-dialogue-journaling-technique/
• ↑ https://writingcooperative.com/this-is-why-you-should-write-poetry-b588d091209f
• ↑ http://wordful.com/how-to-write-a-powerful-letter/
• ↑ https://thewritepractice.com/express-yourself/
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/resolution-not-conflict/201305/how-express-feelings-and-how-not

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Describing words for feelings

Ever struggle to express the whirlwind of emotions within your characters, or capture the nuanced feelings of a scene? Fear not, word wizards! This blog is your compass, guiding you through the vast landscape of describing feelings with precision and depth.

Here are 90+ describing words for feelings, along with their meanings and examples:

• Blissful – Extremely happy and content. Example: After their wedding, they felt blissful as they danced under the stars.
• Melancholic – A feeling of deep sadness or sorrow. Example: The old song always made her feel a bit melancholic, reminding her of lost times.
• Euphoric – Intense happiness or excitement. Example: Winning the championship left him feeling euphoric for days.
• Serene – Calm and peaceful. Example: The serene beauty of the mountains left them speechless.
• Anxious – Feeling nervous or worried about something. Example: She felt anxious before her job interview.
• Content – Feeling satisfied and happy with one’s situation. Example: Sitting by the fireplace with a good book made him feel content.
• Elated – Extremely happy or joyful. Example: She was elated when she received the news of her promotion.
• Despondent – Feeling extremely low in spirits, hopeless. Example: After losing his job, he became despondent and spent days in bed.
• Ecstatic – Overwhelmingly happy or joyful. Example: The team was ecstatic after winning the championship.
• Gloomy – Feeling sad or depressed, often associated with darkness. Example: The gloomy weather matched her mood perfectly.
• Lighthearted – Feeling carefree and cheerful. Example: Their lighthearted banter always made the long car rides enjoyable.
• Frustrated – Feeling annoyed or discouraged when unable to achieve something. Example: He felt frustrated after trying to fix the broken computer for hours.
• Enthusiastic – Eager and excited about something. Example: She was enthusiastic about her new job and couldn’t wait to start.
• Hopeful – Feeling optimistic about the future. Example: Despite the challenges, they remained hopeful that things would improve.
• Awe-struck – Feeling amazed and overwhelmed by something awe-inspiring. Example: Standing under the starry sky, she felt awe-struck by the vastness of the universe.
• Disappointed – Feeling let down or disillusioned. Example: She was disappointed when her favorite team lost the game.
• Optimistic – Having a positive outlook on life or a particular situation. Example: Despite the setbacks, he remained optimistic about his goals.
• Satisfied – Feeling content or pleased with a situation or outcome. Example: After a hearty meal, he felt satisfied and ready for a nap.
• Lonely – Feeling isolated or lacking companionship. Example: Moving to a new city left her feeling lonely and homesick.
• Joyful – Full of joy and happiness. Example: The children were joyful as they played in the park.
• Vulnerable – Feeling exposed or unprotected, emotionally or physically. Example: Sharing her deepest secrets made her feel vulnerable.
• Excited – Feeling enthusiastic and eager about something. Example: He was excited to finally meet his long-lost friend.
• Nostalgic – Feeling sentimental about the past. Example: Looking at old photographs made her feel nostalgic for her childhood.
• Confident – Feeling sure of oneself and one’s abilities. Example: With thorough preparation, she felt confident about giving the presentation.
• Angry – Feeling strong displeasure or hostility towards someone or something. Example: He became angry when his plans were unexpectedly canceled.
• Peaceful – Feeling calm and free from disturbance. Example: Watching the sunrise by the beach made her feel peaceful and serene.
• Stressed – Feeling mentally or emotionally strained due to pressure or demands. Example: The upcoming exams left her feeling stressed and anxious.
• Grateful – Feeling thankful and appreciative of something or someone. Example: She was grateful for the support of her friends during tough times.
• Proud – Feeling a sense of accomplishment or satisfaction in one’s achievements or qualities. Example: He felt proud of his daughter’s academic success.
• Overwhelmed – Feeling buried or inundated by emotions or tasks. Example: With so much to do, she felt overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start.
• Calm – Feeling peaceful and relaxed, without agitation or anxiety. Example: After a long day at work, she enjoyed a calm evening at home.
• Sympathetic – Feeling or showing concern and understanding for someone else’s suffering or difficulties. Example: She was sympathetic towards her friend who had lost a loved one.
• Hopeless – Feeling without hope or prospects for improvement. Example: After the long search, they felt hopeless about finding their lost pet.
• Comforted – Feeling reassured and at ease. Example: His mother’s hug always made him feel comforted and safe.
• Jealous – Feeling envious or resentful of someone else’s possessions, achievements, or advantages. Example: She couldn’t help but feel jealous of her friend’s new car.
• Thrilled – Feeling extremely excited or pleased about something. Example: She was thrilled to receive tickets to her favorite band’s concert.
• Confused – Feeling puzzled or uncertain about something. Example: The complex instructions left him feeling confused and frustrated.
• Disgusted – Feeling strong revulsion or distaste. Example: The sight of the spoiled food made her feel disgusted.
• Secure – Feeling safe and protected, both physically and emotionally. Example: In his father’s arms, the child felt secure and loved.
• Regretful – Feeling sorrow or remorse for something one has done or failed to do. Example: She felt regretful for not speaking up when she had the chance.
• Grieving – Feeling intense sorrow or sadness, especially after a loss. Example: The family was still grieving the loss of their beloved pet.
• Amused – Feeling entertained or finding something funny. Example: She couldn’t help but feel amused by her cat’s playful antics.
• Determined – Feeling resolute and unwavering in one’s goals or intentions. Example: Despite the obstacles, she remained determined to finish the marathon.
• Depressed – Feeling deeply sad or despondent. Example: After the breakup, he fell into a depressed state and withdrew from social activities.
• Curious – Feeling eager to learn or know more about something. Example: The curious child asked endless questions about the world around her.
• Resentful – Feeling bitter or indignant at having been treated unfairly. Example: She couldn’t help but feel resentful towards her colleague who took credit for her work.
• Awkward – Feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed in a social situation. Example: She felt awkward at the party, not knowing anyone there.
• Sorrowful – Feeling deep sadness or grief. Example: The funeral left everyone feeling sorrowful and somber.
• Alive – Feeling full of energy and vitality. Example: Running in the fresh air made her feel alive and invigorated.
• Desperate – Feeling a sense of urgency or extreme need. Example: After days without food, they felt desperate for nourishment.
• Embarrassed – Feeling self-conscious or ashamed in front of others. Example: She felt embarrassed when she tripped and fell in front of a crowd.
• Apprehensive – Feeling anxious or fearful about something that may happen. Example: She was apprehensive about the outcome of the medical test.
• Impatient – Feeling restless or eager for something to happen. Example: Waiting in line made him feel impatient and agitated.
• Overjoyed – Extremely happy or thrilled. Example: They were overjoyed to hear the news of their friend’s recovery.
• Conflicted – Feeling torn or uncertain about a decision or situation. Example: She felt conflicted about whether to accept the job offer or not.
• Insecure – Feeling uncertain or lacking confidence in oneself. Example: The criticism left her feeling insecure about her abilities.
• Skeptical – Feeling doubtful or unconvinced about something. Example: She was skeptical about the promises made by the salesperson.
• Fascinated – Feeling intensely interested or captivated by something. Example: She was fascinated by the intricate details of the ancient artifact.
• Disappointed – Feeling let down or disillusioned. Example: She was disappointed when her favorite restaurant was closed.
• Loved – Feeling cherished and appreciated by others. Example: Surrounded by family, she felt loved and valued.
• Relieved – Feeling a sense of reassurance or release from anxiety or tension. Example: After the exam, he felt relieved that it was finally over.
• Appreciative – Feeling grateful and thankful for something. Example: She was appreciative of her friend’s help during a difficult time.
• Lonely – Feeling isolated or lacking companionship. Example: He felt lonely in the big city, far from his family and friends.
• Indifferent – Feeling neither positive nor negative about something. Example: She was indifferent towards the outcome of the game.
• Intrigued – Feeling curious or interested in something. Example: The mysterious letter left her feeling intrigued and eager to learn more.
• Disheartened – Feeling discouraged or dispirited. Example: Despite their efforts, they felt disheartened by the lack of progress.
• Envious – Feeling resentful or jealous of someone else’s possessions, qualities, or success. Example: She couldn’t help but feel envious of her friend’s new job.
• Cheerful – Feeling happy and optimistic. Example: The cheerful music lifted her spirits after a long day at work.
• Defeated – Feeling beaten or overcome by a situation or opponent. Example: After losing the match, he felt defeated and disappointed.
• Surprised – Feeling taken aback or amazed by something unexpected. Example: She was surprised by the sudden arrival of her long-lost friend.
• Embittered – Feeling resentful or aggrieved due to a sense of unfair treatment. Example: Years of mistreatment left him feeling embittered and cynical.
• Excited – Feeling eager and enthusiastic about something. Example: She was excited about her upcoming trip to Europe.
• Overwhelmed – Feeling completely inundated or overpowered by emotions or responsibilities. Example: With so much to do, she felt overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start.
• Confident – Feeling self-assured and certain about one’s abilities or qualities. Example: She felt confident about her chances of success in the competition.
• Enraged – Feeling intense anger or fury. Example: He was enraged by the injustice of the situation.
• Impassioned – Feeling deeply passionate or fervent about something. Example: She delivered an impassioned speech in defense of human rights.
• Sullen – Feeling gloomy or morose, often with a silent and sulky demeanor. Example: After the argument, he remained sullen and withdrawn.
• Hopeful – Feeling optimistic and confident about the future. Example: Despite the challenges, she remained hopeful that things would improve.
• Cautious – Feeling careful and wary about potential risks or dangers. Example: She was cautious about investing in the stock market.
• Wistful – Feeling nostalgic and slightly sad, often longing for something lost or unattainable. Example: As she watched the sunset, she felt wistful for her childhood.
• Fulfilled – Feeling satisfied and content with one’s accomplishments and experiences. Example: After years of hard work, she felt fulfilled in her career.
• Enthusiastic – Feeling eager and excited about something. Example: She was enthusiastic about her new hobby.
• Amused – Feeling entertained or amused by something humorous. Example: The comedian’s jokes left the audience feeling amused and cheerful.
• Inspired – Feeling motivated and stimulated to take action or create something. Example: The breathtaking landscape inspired her to start painting again.
• Dismayed – Feeling disappointed or discouraged by something unexpected. Example: They were dismayed to discover that their flight had been canceled.
• Shocked – Feeling startled or amazed by something unexpected or surprising. Example: She was shocked by the sudden turn of events.
• Disillusioned – Feeling disappointed or disenchanted by a realization that something is not as good as one believed. Example: After the scandal, many people felt disillusioned with politics.
• Humbled – Feeling modest and respectful, often in response to recognition or praise. Example: She felt humbled by the support and kindness of her community.
• Excited – Feeling eager and enthusiastic about something. Example: They were excited to explore the new city.

Now it’s your turn! Share your favorite words to describe feelings in the comments below. Let’s build a vibrant emotional vocabulary together!

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