“We are not thinking machines. We are feeling machines that think.”
- Antonio Damasio
What are emotions?
The simplest way we can begin to understand what emotions are is to look at the origin of the word. Emotion comes from the Latin root movēre meaning to move. In fact, all we need to do is remove the e and we see the word motion.
However, the e is important, too. Think of it as representing energy. Therefore, "e-motions" can be viewed as energy in motion. During the course of our evolution, we human beings developed emotions as a way for survival. When we interact with the physical world around us, that inner energy created from those physical interactions moves us to act or behave in certain ways, such as look for food, fight for resources, or run to safety. Therefore, emotions are the process through which we engage with and respond to our world physically.
However, the e is important, too. Think of it as representing energy. Therefore, "e-motions" can be viewed as energy in motion. During the course of our evolution, we human beings developed emotions as a way for survival. When we interact with the physical world around us, that inner energy created from those physical interactions moves us to act or behave in certain ways, such as look for food, fight for resources, or run to safety. Therefore, emotions are the process through which we engage with and respond to our world physically.
What are feelings?
Once we experience emotions, however, we also sense and perceive them internally with our minds. This perception, this feeling, that we have of the emotions is what allows us to apply some sort of value and label to them. For example, a positive emotional experience can lead us to have feelings of happiness and joy whereas a negative one could lead us to feel angry or sad.
As a result, we may then have a different perspective or narrative on the event that took place based on the feelings we have, leading to all sorts of different thoughts or ideas and ultimately coloring the narrative or story we have of ourselves and the lives that we live. In this way, feelings are the process through which we engage with and respond to our world mentally.
As a result, we may then have a different perspective or narrative on the event that took place based on the feelings we have, leading to all sorts of different thoughts or ideas and ultimately coloring the narrative or story we have of ourselves and the lives that we live. In this way, feelings are the process through which we engage with and respond to our world mentally.
So why is feeling so important?
The Mind-Body Connection
As modern neuroscientific research and philosophies explore the connection between our bodies and our minds, we are beginning to understand that, while they may function in different ways and on seemingly different planes (one being physical and the other being mental), the two are not completely separate. In fact, they each interact with and rely on each other for optimal health and wellbeing.
Feelings Serve as an Anchor for Processing the Physical World Mentally
The interface between the emotions that arise within us from our physical interactions with the world and the feelings we have when receiving and processing those emotions is absolutely critical to the kind and quality of life we will live: it shapes all of the thoughts and perspectives our mind then uses to try and function, moment-to-moment, day-to-day, and over the entire course of a lifetime.
If those thoughts and perspectives become distorted, ineffective, and/or limited, it can lead to tremendous amounts of suffering and decay, both for the body and the mind.
As modern neuroscientific research and philosophies explore the connection between our bodies and our minds, we are beginning to understand that, while they may function in different ways and on seemingly different planes (one being physical and the other being mental), the two are not completely separate. In fact, they each interact with and rely on each other for optimal health and wellbeing.
Feelings Serve as an Anchor for Processing the Physical World Mentally
The interface between the emotions that arise within us from our physical interactions with the world and the feelings we have when receiving and processing those emotions is absolutely critical to the kind and quality of life we will live: it shapes all of the thoughts and perspectives our mind then uses to try and function, moment-to-moment, day-to-day, and over the entire course of a lifetime.
If those thoughts and perspectives become distorted, ineffective, and/or limited, it can lead to tremendous amounts of suffering and decay, both for the body and the mind.
Expression is fundamental to living.
Most importantly, if our feelings cannot be effectively expressed, we cannot continue to progress and grow into the beings we are ultimately capable of becoming. Think of this process as the mental parallel to the physical process of life that we are all aware of and experience.
Every living organism in this world must physically take in its environment, process it, and release it back out. As humans, some of the ways we do this is through eating, drinking, and breathing. What happens if we eat, drink, and breathe, but cannot eliminate?
The answer may seem obvious, but let’s take a closer look at the resulting process:
In this same way, the feelings we have are a way for the mind to take in and process the physical world mentally through its interface with our emotions. They serve as the equally important mental analogue to the physical act of processing the nourishment that our environment gives us.
If we cannot effectively process, identify, and express those feelings, our minds will also experience the same fate of inhibited life and growth that can progress from mere nuisance to seriousness to eventual degradation and demise.
Every living organism in this world must physically take in its environment, process it, and release it back out. As humans, some of the ways we do this is through eating, drinking, and breathing. What happens if we eat, drink, and breathe, but cannot eliminate?
The answer may seem obvious, but let’s take a closer look at the resulting process:
- At first, it merely feels like a nuisance or minor inconvenience.
- Later, if it persists, it becomes more serious, causing severe discomfort, pain, and suffering to the extent that we may not or even cannot take anything in anymore.
- Eventually, it will even become life-threatening and kill us. As the process moves along, the hindrance to our continued life and growth increases in severity to the point that we are finally no more.
In this same way, the feelings we have are a way for the mind to take in and process the physical world mentally through its interface with our emotions. They serve as the equally important mental analogue to the physical act of processing the nourishment that our environment gives us.
If we cannot effectively process, identify, and express those feelings, our minds will also experience the same fate of inhibited life and growth that can progress from mere nuisance to seriousness to eventual degradation and demise.