The Basics: Understanding Emotions

This book was a gift to Rook from Augusta for all that he has done for her. It is a book about the differences of feelings and emotions as well as what they are.
==Introduction to Understanding Emotions==
An emotion is a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one’s circumstances, mood, or relationships with others. Which sometimes is confused with feelings. The difference is, emotions are event-driven, while feelings are learned behaviours that are usually in hibernation until triggered by an external event.
For Example:
Unlike happiness (a feeling), joy (an emotion) involves little cognitive awareness -we feel good without consciously deciding to- and it’s longer lasting.
==Differences of Emotions and Feelings in a Nutshell:==
Feelings: 	Emotions:
Feelings tell us "how to live" 	Emotions tell us what we "like" and "dislike"
Feelings state: "There is a right and wrong way to be 	Emotions state: "There are good and bad actions"
Feelings state: "Your emotions matter" 	Emotions state: "The external world matters:
Feelings establish our long term attitude towards reality 	Emotions establish our initial attitude towards reality
Feelings alert us to anticipated dangers and prepares us for action	Emotions alert us to immediate dangers and prepares us for action
Feelings ensure long-term survival of self (body and mind) 	Emotions ensure immediate survival of self (body and mind)
Feelings are Low-key but Sustainable 	Emotions are Intense and Temporary
Happiness is a feeling 	Joy is an emotion
Worry is a feeling 	Fear is an emotion
Contentment  is a feeling 	Enthusiasm is an emotion
Bitterness is a feeling 	Anger is an emotion
Love is a feeling 	Lust is an emotion
Depression is a feeling 	Sadness is an emotion
Bitterness shows you where you need to heal, where you’re still holding judgement on others and yourself.
Resentment shows you where you’re living in the past and not allowing the present to be as it is.
Discomfort shows you that you need to pay attention right now to what is happening, because you’re being given the opportunity to change, to do something different than you typically do it.
Anger shows you what you’re passionate about, where your boundaries are, and what you believe needs to change about the world.
Disappointment shows you that you tried for something, that you did not give in to apathy, and that you still care.
Guilt shows you that you’re still living life in other people’s expectations of what you should do.
Shame shows you that you’re internalizing other people’s beliefs about who you are and that you need to reconnect with yourself.
Anxiety shows you that you need to wake up right now and that you need to be present, that your stuck in the past and living in fear of the future.
Sadness shows you the depth of your feeling, the depth of your care for others, and this world.
Emotions are crucial to one’s ability to adapt to the challenges of your daily life. When someone feels good, one is able to shrug off even the most burdensome tasks, but when someone is miserable, they view even an enjoyable activity with a sense of gloom and doom. Emotions also affect one’s relationships with others. If a companion tells you a tragic story and one reacts by snickering instead of looking sad or concerned, they seem rude and insensitive. On the other hand, if one frowns when they should smile at the companion’s jokes, it’ll cause offence for different reasons.
Our emotions affect not only the way others treat us, but our inner sense of well-being. We tend to believe that whether we are experiencing positive or negative emotions reflects forces outside our control, blaming everything from our genes to the weather. As beings, we have the capacity to reflect on our past behaviours. By understanding our previous actions, we can make informed decisions about the future.
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Category:Ascension Lore