What you are feeling inside right now as you read this: frustrated, angry,
scared, disappointed, defeated, joy, anxious, embarrassed, and worried? Are you
letting yourself experience the feeling or are you trying to deny or repress
the feeling?
Hopefully, you have healthy self-esteem,
which allows you to experience all of your feelings. People with low
self-esteem typically have a fear about experiencing and expressing their
feelings. However, they are not alone, because most people in our society
have
some fear about expressing feelings, especially negative ones, such as
anger, fear and sadness.
Adding to this difficulty is the fact most of us
just don't understand what feelings are and how they work. Consequently, the
following is a brief introduction to our inner world of feelings:
Basically your feelings are forms of bodily energy that
drives and motivates you to survive by getting your needs met. They are your
body's normal physiological reactions to events outside of you as a result
of your assumptions, expectations, and interpretations of those events.
According to John Bradshaw, a counselor, your feelings are forms of bodily
energy that tell you of a need, a loss, or a fulfillment. They help you to
effectively take care of yourself.
He states, " Emotions/feelings are direct
expression of reality as opposed to thoughts which analyze your experience.
Feelings give important information about what we need to do, what we want,
or how we want to change."
You experience your feelings in your body. By
learning to listen to your body, you can begin to tell what you are feeling
and needing.
Four Basic Feelings:
All of your feelings can be divided into basic areas: contentment, anger,
sadness, and fear.
