Feeling feelings and thinking feelings are two distinct ways of experiencing emotions.
Feeling Feelings:
- Direct Experience: Feeling feelings involves directly experiencing the physical sensations and emotional responses associated with an emotion. This is a raw, immediate, and often visceral experience.
- Body-Based: Feeling feelings are strongly tied to the body. You might feel tightness in your chest, a lump in your throat, butterflies in your stomach, or a racing heartbeat.
- Example: When you feel sadness, you might experience a heavy feeling in your chest and a sense of tightness in your throat.
Thinking Feelings:
- Cognitive Processing: Thinking feelings involves analyzing, interpreting, and labeling emotions using your thoughts. You reflect on the situation, try to understand why you feel the way you do, and put words to your experience.
- Mind-Based: Thinking feelings rely heavily on your thoughts and mental processes. You may engage in self-talk, try to find meaning in your emotions, or analyze the situation.
- Example: You might think, "I feel sad because I didn't get the job I wanted," or "This sadness is reminding me of a similar experience I had in the past."
The Interplay:
It's important to note that feeling feelings and thinking feelings are not mutually exclusive. They often work together. You might initially feel a raw emotion, like anger, and then start thinking about the situation and why you are angry. This can lead to a deeper understanding of your emotions and how to manage them effectively.
Benefits of Both:
- Feeling Feelings: Allows for authentic emotional expression and helps you connect with your inner experience.
- Thinking Feelings: Provides insights into the causes of your emotions and helps you develop coping strategies.
By understanding the difference between feeling feelings and thinking feelings, you can gain a more nuanced understanding of your emotional landscape and develop healthier ways to manage your emotions.
