The ThirtySpoke Field Guide to Transformative Coaching
PART II
EMOTIONS - FEELINGS - MOOD
Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio has written about the importance of emotions and feelings in life-regulating processes. He explains that emotions are mental experiences of body states, which arise when the brain interprets physical states that come from the body's response to stimuli.
Emotions happen first. They are caused by the chemical response to the environment that originates in the body and is controlled by the brain. Emotions are intense, short-lived (lasting seconds to minutes) reactions that can be felt throughout the body. They are usually triggered by specific events or stimuli.
Feelings are the physical and mental sensations that result from internalized emotions. They are subjective experiences in how the brain interprets, thinks, and processes emotions and can be different from person to person in the same scenario.
Moods, a mixture of both emotions and feelings, become a general feeling that can influence thoughts, behaviors, and actions. Moods can last for hours, days, or even longer. They often don't have a clear or identifiable trigger.
Mood disorders are characterized by extreme emotional highs or lows, such as depression or mania.
All can impact how we perceive and live in the world.