Positive feelings are signals that our needs are being met and we are safe and thriving. Some examples of positive feelings are joy, happiness, excitement, contentment, peace, satisfaction, love, gratitude, kindness, hope, confidence and pride. Positive feelings are good as they keep us healthy, promote our wellbeing, broaden our perspective and foster creativity. Our effort should be to always stay with positive feelings.
Negative feelings, in contrast, signal unmet needs or indicate some external threats or situations requiring our attention. Some examples of negative feelings are fear, anxiety, worry, anger, frustration, resentment, irritation, sadness, loneliness, despair, shame, guilt, humiliation. Ignoring unmet needs on one hand prevents us from experiencing happiness, on the other, over time can contribute to mental or physical illness. Ignoring external threats of course is not wise.
Negative feelings in essence are calls for action, to reflect, realign, or protect ourselves. Looking at them that way, it can be said that negative feelings are good too and thus all feelings are good.
(based on ideas from the book – “The secret language of feelings” by Calvin D. Banyan)
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