Emotions and feelings have points in common and aspects that distinguish them.
Emotions and feelings have long been a topic of discussion among experts in the psychological field. To begin with, emotions are instantaneous, reactive responses that arise within the mind and express our essence towards a situation or event. These can range from love to hate, a joy to sadness, and are generally thought of as primary impulses that change rapidly over time.
Conversely, feelings can be viewed as more stable “opinions” about ourselves, others, and the world that derive from numerous emotions experienced in the past. They are a complex mix of evaluations that have also taken from personal beliefs, desired goals and the cultural model currently under discussion.
Emotions and feelings: similarities and overlaps
Emotions and feelings have many characteristics in common that make them closely related. Both are mental states , so we feel them in our body as visceral reactions. While emotions may be more immediate and intense than feelings, both affect how one thinks, acts, and feels about a topic or situation. However, there is a difference between emotions and feelings. Emotions can be described as short-lived intense reactions to the present while feelings are more deeply rooted in past emotional experience. Emotions are generally an automatic process that it is triggered by something in our immediate environment; Feelings, on the other hand, are more overall connected to past events and strictly personal experiences.
Emotions have a strong impact on our feelings . Emotions help us interpret and understand the reality around us, also influencing how we react to it. When we experience positive emotions such as joy or excitement, our perceptions become more positive and we feel more motivated. Conversely, when we experience negative emotions, such as stress or fear, they can make us feel demoralized and helpless. The influence of our emotions on the way we process our feelings is so profound that although we cannot always control them to the same extent we can use cognitive strategies to better manage them and achieve a lasting sense of emotional well-being.
Emotions and feelings according to Damasio
According to the author Antonio Damasio , emotions and feelings are essential for making decisions , better planning our time and building socially satisfying relationships. Emotions provide a sort of ” intuitive guide ” that helps us deal with life’s more complex situations. As well as feelings, which according to Damasio are stable affective dispositions that influence our evaluation of the outside world .
It is therefore a combination of mental-emotional states that change each according to the other and it is thanks to them that we are able to fully understand ourselves and the surrounding reality. The practical application of emotions and feelings in our daily life can prove to be extremely beneficial and productive if they are managed with awareness.
What role do emotions play in daily life and how can we manage them?
Emotions and feelings are both important in daily living. Emotions are our body’s first response to an event, usually instinctive and unconscious. They are an immediate and brief expression of what we are feeling, such as fear or joy , which can pass quickly. Feelings, on the other hand, refer to deeper thoughts about a certain issue or relationship. They are more complex than simple emotions and can last much longer, such as love for someone or sadness over the passing of a close friend. Both are part of our daily life and it is important to know them and commit ourselves to welcoming them without judging them: this is the basis for managing our emotional reactions in a healthy and constructive way.
Emotions have the power to give us the strength to face problems, motivate us to work hard, and infuse our actions with meaning and purpose. They also help us solve difficult situations with creativity and insight, prompting us to act appropriately. Furthermore, emotions offer us the opportunity to develop deeper relationships with others through mutual understanding and sharing of emotions. Together, these qualities can contribute to the formation of strong bonds that will enrich the emotional and existential well-being of individuals in society.
Managing our emotions can be an absolutely necessary process for our mental health. Each of us is different and reacts in unique ways to a situation. So, managing your emotions means learning to make decisions that will help you face life with more awareness and less stress. A good way to control emotions is to recognize them when they come. To do this, take some time to reflect on the situation that led to the emotion and how you are feeling.
Once we recognize how we feel, we can start practicing mindfulness techniques such as meditation or deep breathing, which will allow us to overcome it in the best way. In addition, exercising regularly can also help maintain emotional balance, as it allows us to release accumulated stress and express our emotions through movement.
