Emotions and Feelings – is there a difference?

Many people think that emotions and feelings are just different words for the same thing – that we can use those words interchangeably.

But what if emotions and feelings are not the same?

What if there is a significant difference between them that has implications for our health and wellbeing?

Would it not be helpful to know what the difference was?

You bet it would!

In order to explain the difference, let me explain a little more about the human body and our make up.

Human beings are not just solid matter – we are in fact energetic beings with energy flowing through us all the time in every direction.

It’s like we are made up of lots of holes through which light can enter and leave the body.

We feel this flow of energy in and through the body all of the time – even if we do not recognise it and this flow of energy is felt and is what we know as feelings.

Feelings are the bodily sensations or feelings that register what is going on around us and within us at any moment and which we can tune into or feel as we so choose or not.

So feelings are constantly changing depending on what is going on around us and within us. However, ideally, we have no attachment to them – we just feel them, recognise them and honour them. Feelings are what tells us what is really going on for us and around us, and are much more truthful than the thoughts in our heads!

Indeed we often override what we are feeling in our bodies with our minds in order to please another or gain some form of recognition e.g. we are tired and exhausted and feel that we need to sleep but we continue to work late in order to please the boss or to get his/her approval. 

In addition, we have a natural energy source within us, which is loving, caring and gentle. In order to have harmony in the body, we need to make choices with this same quality of energy as much as possible. If we do not choose this quality then we will have energy flowing through us that is not of our true state and this will be harmful for the body over time. 

So What Happens when we are Emotional?

When we are emotional e.g. angry or frustrated we are running an energy through the body that is not harmonious for it and indeed we can even feel this at the time. These emotions affect our pulse and blood pressure and cause other internal changes as well that affect our cells and organs.

What are Emotions?

Emotions are the result of feelings that have either been reacted too or that have not been felt, recognized, or honoured and may be stuck and carried in the body. Usually they are the result of an unmet need, a hurt, or an expectation that has not been fulfilled. Often there is a story about them and we usually have some attachment to the story and the emotions. Emotions are detrimental to our health both in the moment they occur and over time.  Esoterically and energetically emotions are at the root of many of our illnesses and diseases – so it’s definitely worth knowing about them. Medical science has not fully elucidated this as yet but more and more evidence is accumulating that is confirming the detrimental impact of emotions on health.  

The Differences Between Feelings and Emotions

Feelings:

• occur constantly, all of the time

• can stay centred (do not alter the energetic state of the body)

• non-emotional and feel what is there to be felt

• true guides re what is occurring in life and in our bodies

• can recognise what is going on within and without

• clairsentience is the ability to feel clearly

• based on the energetic truth of what is occurring. 

Emotions:

• reactions to something or someone

• involve a story

• unmet expectation or need

• have a disturbing energetic quality

• we are no longer centred or still (alters the energetic state of the body)

• are poisonous to our health and wellbeing

• based on false beliefs about who we are 

So emotions and feelings are not the same – they feel different and they have different consequences in the body.

Of course it is easy to get caught up in our emotions and think we are them. Sometimes people think a life without the emotional highs and lows would be boring but that is a fallacy. Instead, we can have a consistently steady and joyful way of being, no matter what is going on around us – how great would that be! 

So it is good to let go of emotions knowing they are not healthy and are not who we truly are. We are not our anger, our sadness, our frustration, jealousy or any other emotion – connect to the natural loving energy within and you will know this to be true for yourself. This also helps us to not take other people’s emotional reactions too personally as we know it is not coming from their true essence. By staying centred in such instances, it can assist the other person to return to their essence also.

Feel what you feel, recognise it and honour it – your body will thank you for it!