What are Human Feelings?

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Contents

Human Feelings

Human feelings are the inner experiences that tell a person how life is going for them right now, like a built‑in signal system. They colour everything that happens, from big events to small moments, and help guide choices, relationships, and behaviour.

Feelings and emotions in simple terms

An emotion is the body’s quick reaction to something (like a jolt of fear when a car swerves).
A feeling is how that emotion is experienced and put into words in the mind (for example, “I feel scared and shaky”).

The main families of feelings

Many psychologists group human feelings into a few big families, such as:

Enjoyment/joy: feeling happy, pleased, calm, or satisfied.
Sadness: feeling low, disappointed, lonely, or grieving.
Anger: feeling annoyed, frustrated, resentful, or furious.
Fear: feeling anxious, worried, panicky, or unsafe.
Disgust: feeling repelled or turned off.
Surprise: feeling shocked, startled, or amazed.

More complex feelings (like shame, pride, jealousy, or gratitude) are often mixes or “shades” of these basic groups.

What feelings are for

Feelings act like messages:

They warn of danger (fear), show that needs are unmet (sadness or frustration), or signal that something matters (love, anger, guilt, shame).
They also draw people toward what is good for them, like connection, safety, and meaning (enjoyment, interest, affection).

Making feelings easier to handle

Name them: putting words to a feeling (“I feel anxious and tense”) often makes it smaller and clearer.
Notice body signals: tension, racing heart, or heavy chest can help show what is being felt.
Allow and then respond: instead of fighting a feeling, you can accept “this is here right now” and then choose a helpful next step (talk, rest, problem‑solve).