Emotions vs. Feelings: Understanding the Difference

Emotions are brief, intense physiological responses to stimuli. Feelings are our conscious interpretation of these emotions.

In ‘The worry-free way,’ I explore this crucial distinction. You experience emotions, but you are not your emotions. You’re the awareness observing both the raw emotional response and the subsequent feelings.

Recent neuroscience supports this view:

  • fMRI studies show emotions activating subcortical brain regions in milliseconds.
  • Feelings involve slower cortical processing, allowing for cognitive interpretation.

This understanding is liberating. By recognizing you’re not your emotions, you can:

  1. Observe emotional responses without being overwhelmed
  2. Choose how to interpret and act on your feelings
  3. Develop greater emotional intelligence and resilience

Learn practical steps to navigate your emotional landscape without being controlled by it. Discover how to inhabit your body fully while freeing your mind from emotional turbulence.

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