Sweetwater Zen Center - Feelings Vocabulary

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To study the self is to forget the self.
To forget the self is to be enlightened by all things.
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Feelings Vocabulary

Observation from Evaluation | Needs Vocabulary

By developing a vocabulary of feelings that allows us to clearly and specifically name or identify our emotions, we can connect more easily with one another. Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable by expressing our feelings can help resolve conflicts. NVC distinguishes the expression of actual feelings from words and statements that describe thoughts, assessments, and interpretations.

Words like "ignored" express how we interpret others, rather than how we feel. Here is a sampling of such words:

abandoned	distrusted	put down	diminished
abused	interrupted	rejected	provoked
attacked	intimidated	taken for granted	used
betrayed	let down	threatened	pressured
boxed in	manipulated	unappreciated	cornered
bullied	misunderstood	unheard	unwanted
cheated	neglected	unseen	patronized
coerced	overworked	unsupported	co-opted

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BUILDING A VOCABULARY FOR FEELINGS

In expressing our feelings, it helps to use words that refer to specific emotions, rather than words that are vague or general. For example, if we say, "I feel good about that," the word good could mean happy, excited, relieved or a number of other emotions. Words such as good and bad prevent the listener from connecting easily with what we might actually be feeling. The following lists have been compiled to help you increase your power to articulate feelings and clearly describe a whole range of emotional states.

delighted	interested	energetic	content	jubilant
lighthearted	absorbed	creative	happy	exultant
carefree	aroused	alive	easy	joyful
amused	engrossed	vital	glad	joyous
pleasure	fascinated	zestful	cheerful	elated
mirth	inquisitive	invigorated	pleased	ecstatic
adventurous	stimulated	buoyant	blissful	exhilarated
high	intrigued	eager	comfortable	rapturous
playful	curious	ebullient		thrilled
		vigorous	relaxed
thankful	affectionate	effervescent	mellow	satisfied
moved	warm	fresh	languid	fulfilled
touched	loving	healthy	dreamy	sated
grateful	friendly		rested
appreciative	tender	confident		free
expansive	sympathetic	proud	alert
	open	empowered	mindful	awed
excited	openhearted	hopeful	clearheaded	inspired
ardent		optimistic	steady	wonder
passionate	peaceful	expectant	centered	amazed
fervent	calm	safe		astonished
enthusiastic	centered	secure		bedazzled
	composed	relieved		spellbound
	equanimous			entranced
	quiet			enthralled
	tranquil			enchanted
	reverent
	attuned

Feelings likely to occur when our needs are not being met

agony	angry	confused	fearful	disappointed
pain	ire	uncertain	apprehensive	dismayed
misery	furious	ambivalent	worried	discouraged
miserable	enraged	befuddled	anxious	disheartened
grief	outraged	conflicted	nervous	dissatisfied
hurt	indignant	discombobulated	wary	disgruntled
woe	vengeful	dizzy	insecure
wretched		dubious	jittery	disquiet
distress	tired	doubtful	edgy	uneasy
anguish	weary	hesitant	suspicious	uncomfortable
broken-hearted	fatigued	indecisive	mistrustful	disturbed
sad	lethargic	torn	panicky	troubled
mournful	low life energy	perplexed	guarded	perturbed
sorrow	heavy	puzzled	leery	turmoil
bereaved	sleepy	mystified	foreboding	turbulent
	lifeless	unclear	terror	upset
aversion	bored	unsure	dread	unsettled
dislike	enervated	tentative	horror	agitated
hate	draggy	lost	petrified	surprised
repulsed		in a daze	frightened	alarmed
hostile	tense		scared	rattled
resentment	intense	envious	daunted	startled
bitter	stressed	pining	unnerved
animosity	frazzled	wistful		embarrassed
loathing	overwhelmed	yearning	disconnected	ashamed
disgusted	stretched	desirous	indifferent	guilty
alienated	depleted	nostalgic	apathetic	regretful
repugnance	burnt out	longing	nonchalant	remorseful
	burdened		passive	sorry
annoyed	encumbered	gloomy	numb	unsure of self
exasperated	constricted	depressed	unmoved	deflated
irritated	exhausted	despondent	cold	insecure
vexed	irritable	melancholy	cool	shy
aggravated	fidgety	pessimistic	withdrawn
frustrated	cranky	dejected	unconcerned
displeased	restless	lonely	removed
impatient	listless	forlorn	remote
miffed	distracted	mopey	distant
irked	distraught	hopeless	aloof
aroused	off centered	resigned	reserved
peeved	ungrounded	despairing	inhibited
	fragile		reluctant
	vulnerable		pity
	sensitive		contemptuous