What Are Emotions? What Are They Really?
For some reason or another, we think emotions are bad things. That especially men shouldn’t show emotion. But I don’t think that most of us truly understand emotions, never mind our own. The weird thing is, emotions are way more complex than any of us may ever realise. It’s not just happy or sad – it’s more than that.
Way more.
It’s weird how we can confuse what emotions are. Like moodiness isn’t an emotion, it’s a behaviour towards an emotion (which would probably be upset or frustration). Actually, I’m not sure that upset is an emotion. I think you feel upset if you feel something else first, like disappointment, anger, loss, dissatisfaction, pain or regret. Basically any negative emotion can lead to you feeling upset, which again would be a reaction to another emotion, not necessarily an emotion within itself!
There are many different theories about what constitutes emotion. The first one I found was Robert Plutchik’s theory, naming 8 basic emotions: joy, sadness, anger, jealousy, trust, disgust, anticipation, and surprise.
Then there’s Aristotle, who suggests these: Anger, Friendship, Fear, Shame, Kindness, Pity, Indignation, Envy, and Love.
Lastly, I found what is called The Engineered Language – Lojban:
Simple emotions
discovery
envy
wonder
happiness – sadness
amusement
courage
pity
Complex emotions
pride
closeness
complaint/pain – doing average – pleasure
caution
patience
relaxation – composure – stress
envy – goodwill
Pure emotions
fear
togetherness
respect
appreciation
love
hope
confusion
The last theory is a little more complex than that in reality, but basically that’s what it suggested. However, which one is right? I can’t say for sure. But to me, these are all right, and more.
Emotions are feelings. They’re deep feelings that govern how we think or act a lot of the time. I believe that emotions are a part of our minds but also our soul/spirit. Ever had a feeling that you didn’t understand? Well, that’s because they’re not always logical, but instead come from somewhere deep within. Emotions can be a great guide for us, and when we understand them, we better understand ourselves.
Basic Emotions, Basic Definitions:
Joy: happiness, elation
Sadness: low mood, sorrow
Anger: frustration, high irritation or vexation
Jealousy: wanting something that someone else has
Affection: love, appreciation, kind feelings towards something/someone
The More Complex Emotions, Basic Definitions:
Fear: frightened of something
Love: strong affection, and connection
Hate: strong dislike or anger towards something/someone
Trust: believing someone is honest and worthy of your true self
Relief: happy when a negative passes
Excitement: happiness when anticipating something
Irritation: frustration or anger over something
Friendship: a bond with someone that feels positive
Pain: an aching of the heart, mind, body or spirit
Regret: a negative feeling after doing something you think you should/shouldn’t have done
Pleasure: a highly positive or stimulating feeling whilst experiencing something you like
Familiarity: when something/someone feels familiar or recognisable
Bond: a strong connection of attachment to something/someone
Absence: the feeling that something is missing
Confusion: not understanding something clearly
Loss: when something is not longer with you
Disappointment: when an expectation is not fulfilled
Pride: ego or feeling proud of something
Loneliness: feeling very negatively alone
Belonging: feeling as though you are a part of something, social identity, community
Comfort: feeling at ease
Reserved: keeping oneself closed off
Understanding: when you know something or can appreciate a concept
Accomplishment: when you do well and it feels good
Satisfaction: when something is pleasing and fulfilling
Are there any emotions that I missed? Let me know if so! There were so many that I thought of once I got into it. There is more going on with our emotions that we realise. We all focus too much on happy and sad that we forget about the rest. But when you understand and appreciate the affects of these other emotions, you start to understand your true self. Why you do what you do. Why you feel what you feel.
And this is crucial to a healthy mind and spirit.
Good luck, be aware of your emotions and begin understanding them.
Seek Peace.
