Emotions are what we feel. Thoughts are what goes through our mind. Words are how we express these inner experiences. The three are closely linked. Often, a situation leads to a thought, the thought produces an emotion, and the emotion eventually comes out in words. For example, if a friend doesn’t reply to your message (situation), you may think “they are ignoring me” (thought), feel hurt (emotion), and say “I feel left out” (words).
Why is it sometimes hard to explain our feelings?
Sometimes we know exactly what we feel, but we can’t find the right word for it. For example, if someone asks why you love a person so much, you might say “because they are caring.” Yet that word doesn’t seem to capture the full experience or the real reason behind your love. Words are limited, while feelings are often layered and complex.
Different words can describe different intensities of an emotion. Take the words want, wish, and desire. A want is a need or preference, such as “I want some tea.” A wish is something we hope for, such as “I wish I could travel more.” A desire is a strong wish to have something, such as “I desire to become a national-level athlete.” Each word carries a little more emotional strength than the one before.
What is emotionally loaded language?
Some words communicate more than their literal meaning. They carry positive or negative associations that can influence how the other person responds. Compare “You made a mistake” with “You are completely useless.” The first simply describes what happened. The second attacks the person and is likely to cause hurt or defensiveness. The same situation can be understood very differently depending on the words we choose.
