What exactly is an emotion?

 Emotion is associated with mood, temperament, personality, disposition and motivation. We all have many experiences that involve emotion but it is a difficult concept to put into words. There are over 550 words in the English language that describe emotions, however; people find it difficult to describe their emotions.

The most profound experiences in life involve emotion. Emotions are part of our everyday experiences and are a highly personal experience.

Are we able to turn our emotions on and off like a switch? No, if it were that simple then we could choose to be happy, sad, feel joy or sadness whenever we wanted. Emotions are feelings that happen to us rather than feelings that we choose to make occur.

Research tells us that some degree of emotional control is possible, however; emotions tend to involve automatic reactions that are difficult to regulate.

What are ‘mixed emotions’? To experience emotions that includes both pleasant and unpleasant qualities.

Example: You have just received a promotion at work. You feel happiness about the opportunity and anxiety regarding the challenging new responsibilities.

Do you have difficulty expressing your emotions?                                        The Empowerment Project   www.vikkicarrel.com