Feeling Finder - Journaling Tool

Most people are challenged by their feelings and emotions.

“We know too much and feel too little. At least, we feel too little of those creative emotions from which a good life springs.” – Bertrand Russell

Let me first share with you how I distinguish between emotions and feelings. I understand emotions to be reactive and controlled by some hidden aspect of our subconscious mind. Behind emotions are some negative, inappropriate, fearful thoughts.

Feelings, on the other hand, are innate and natural. They have no basis in fear. Feelings have a strong connection to the heart and the soul and therefore are more loving and compassionate.

EXERCISES

Getting started:

• How are you feeling right now? Release judgment and open to your experience – whatever you are feeling is valid and deserves to be acknowledged. Write as many feeling/emotion words as you can to describe your present situation.

Go deeper:

• Pick a few strong emotions and/or feelings you have experienced in the last week. See our list of 200 words for feelings and emotions. Scan the list to pick out words that most accurately describe what you are feeling. You can even pick out a grouping of words and sort them in a progression of intensity.

Reach higher:

• Draw yourself a road map of some of your typical strong emotions (often negative). Identify the feelings (positive) that can balance these emotions.

“Our feelings are our most genuine paths to knowledge.” – Audre Lorde

Go back and check out our other 50 Journaling Tools.