Feelings vs. Emotions 

Are You Confusing Them And Interchanging Them?

By: Jacqueline T.D. Huynh

“We have thoughts, feelings and emotions, but we are not our thoughts, feelings or emotions.”

– Frances Vaughn

We often talk about the fact that anabolic leaders are aware of their own and others’ emotions, and are able to step back and recognize that their emotions are not automatic.

Let’s take a closer look at the differences between Feelings vs. Emotions.

How about we first clear up a common misconception. The words “feelings” and “emotions” are not interchangeable, although most people use them that way. Feelings are physical; also known as a physiological response – for example, a pit in your stomach, tightness in your throat, or simply a sensation of warmth. Emotions, on the other hand, are what actually what create those physiological responses and feelings.

Emotions can create a perception of good or bad FEELINGS. In reality, they are neither good nor bad. They just…are – and one of the best
ways to grow as a person, and as a leader, is to listen to and take the time to understand your emotional
responses and know that emotions are part of a process and a strategy of your mental programming, they are not purely automatic.

Most people simply react to their emotions. They judge their emotions as “good” or “bad” and relinquish their internal control to old programming instead of listening to the emotion and figuring out what it’s trying to tell them.

Emotions are related to how we interpret events and situations. Look at emotions as tools to help you understand what is going on for you in any particular situation, and ask questions such as:

• “What is triggering this response I had for this event?”
• “Where is this emotion coming from?”
• “Is this a response that I want to continue to have moving forward in the future?”
• And finally “What can I learn from this?”

These questions allow you to observe what’s going on internally and to pay attention to what’s happening, instead of just reacting to life’s circumstances. In this matter, when this process becomes cultivated into a habit, personal development and growth tends to happen at a much greater rate.

For this week, pay attention to your emotions – and then notice your feelings – and pause to figure out what you can learn from the process and strategy of how your mind manages events in your life.

What are your experiences with Feelings and Emotions? We’d love to hear about how you manage them on a day to day basis in the comments below.

Don’t forget to share!