Guide to the Language of Emotions

What follows is a model for emotions. A model is not a truth. Models are intended to be helpful and are judged on how helpful they are.

If you need an emotion model, this is a good one. You are invited to explore it and use it.

There are 24 emotions. These 24 emotions all rest on the surface of a sphere. Imagine drawing a line as you roll a ball around; this is how our perspectives change as we move from emotion to emotion.

Each emotion is a duality that spans from pain to pleasure. This pair of extremes holds all the related emotions between the extremes. For instance, the Anger/Relief emotion includes a minor emotion like annoyed to an intense emotion like hatred.

Each emotion rests between two archtypal energies of a need and preference. There are six needs and eight preferences. The Anger/Relief emotion rests between the Self need (4) and the Thinking preference (T). The Anger/Relief emotion is nicknamed 4T.

Your spirit or essence is in the center of the sphere. And, your day-to-day reality roams around the surface of the ball. Ideally, the travels on the ball will be fluid and cover the whole ball. In reality, we are habitual and tend to travel in well cut grooves.

Recognizing your grooves will allow you to see your habits and then allow you to travel to new emotional territory.