What are emotions?

Understand what emotions are, how they are generated, and what they are trying to tell you.

We all have them—some fear them, while others crave them.

Emotions play a massive role in our daily lives, shaping our interactions with others ​and our reflections on ourselves. Research shows that a single human can ​experience up to 400 different and distinct emotions every day. If you’re awake for 16 ​hours, that’s about 25 emotions an hour. WOW!

The word "emotion" dates back to the 1500s, adapted from the French word ​émouvoir, which translates to "to move" or "to stir." It took nearly another 300 years ​for the term to be introduced into the English language. Apparently, before 1830, no ​one "felt" emotions the way we do now. Society referred to "passions," "accidents of ​the soul," or "moral sentiments," all of which were explained very differently than how ​we understand emotions today. Just imagine what it might mean to have an "accident ​of the soul"!

Emotions have been discussed throughout ancient history. For example, Aristotle, the ​great Greek philosopher, referred to pathos—the Greek word for emotion—in his work ​Rhetoric. He analyzed how emotions like fear, pity, and anger could influence ​decisions and communication. I’d say he was onto something!

Ancient Greek and Roman Stoics viewed emotions as irrational forces that should be ​controlled, seeing them as judgments or misinterpretations of reality.

But what are emotions, actually?

In simple terms,

emotions are physiological responses to external events,

shaped by experience,

that are accompanied by distinctive feelings.

Sounds simple enough, right? Yet modern psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and ​medicine are not able to fully explain the origin and complexity of emotions, whereas ​studies have been intensified in the last 20-30 years.

Modern research has shown that emotions are subdivided into four major categories:

• Anger

• Fear

• Happiness

• Sadness

Aspects of the ‘basic’ emotions will eventually combine and lead to a range of ​emotions.

Their intensity varies from person to person, and is also influenced by culture and own ​past experiences. The emotional landscape is dynamic and can shift quickly, ​depending on a person’s environment, thoughts, and interactions. Not all emotions ​are experienced consciously; some arise subtly and may not be fully explainable.

Where do emotions come from and what’s their anatomy?

Where do emotions come from, and what’s their anatomy?

This is a very complex psychological, neurochemical, and physiological process, with ​many brain functions and interactions involved, so I will try to keep this as simple as ​possible. It's critical to understand the basics of emotional anatomy: In response to ​stimuli (e.g., seeing a snake, hearing a loud noise, seeing a toddler laugh, hearing a ​sad story or song, winning the lottery, or finding rotten eggs in the fridge), certain parts ​of the brain react and initiate a hormonal response.

Neurotransmitters and hormones, ​such as dopamine, serotonin, cortisol, and endorphins, are released, affecting the ​body with changes like an elevated or slowed heart rate, breathing, sweating, muscle ​tension, gut reactions, and/or facial expressions. This is why you might feel butterflies ​in your stomach or become nauseous.

These physical reactions happen in under 300 milliseconds, and the associated ​hormones are absorbed by the body in less than 6 seconds.

Facial expressions are an extension of your emotions and reflect how the emotion ​makes you feel. For example, when you're disgusted, you might wrinkle your nose, ​which also helps prevent unpleasant odors from entering. When you're sad, you may ​raise your brows and lower your mouth, expressing sympathy. Your eyes might ​sparkle when you're happy.

Meanwhile, the brain also evaluates what to do with the particular emotion. Is this a ​fearful situation that activates the fight-or-flight response, or does it present an ​opportunity to learn, grow, or process it in a new way? Memory and experience play a ​role in associating with the emotion, which is why you may react the same way to a ​particular emotion repeatedly.

Why do we have emotions?

Emotions are critical for us to navigate the world, to understand our needs, and to connect with others. We are reacting to facial expressions of ​others, events around us, experiences we have, and also allow us to show others how we feel.

Communication:

We can communicate our feelings and intentions to others. A smile can signal friendliness, while anger might indicate a boundary that shouldn't be crossed. These emotions are sometimes shared involuntarily, as they are controlled by our subconscious.

Decision Making:

Emotions help us understand, analyze, and evaluate situations quickly. They guide us toward choices that align with our values and well-being or can prevent us from acting when something feels misaligned.

Social Bonding:

Emotions strengthen social bonds, friendships, and work relationships through empathy and understanding. Often, no words are needed—a facial expression or gesture can be enough to communicate feelings and deepen connections.

Survival:

Emotions like fear are crucial for detecting risk and prompting action. Anxiety can encourage a reevaluation of a situation before taking action.

Self-Awareness:

Listen to yourself! What do you feel, and how does it affect you? Where can improvements be made?

What are your emotions trying to tell you?

As mentioned previously, there are six basic emotions:

Anger | Fear | Happiness | Sadness | Surprise | Disgust.

Interestingly, humans can generate up to 27 distinct emotions in total.

Emotions are indicators of what's going on inside us, so listening to them is a good starting point. A coach or mentor like myself can help you explore and understand these emotions more deeply to improve your life—making it healthier, happier, and more balanced.

Here are a few examples of what your emotions might be telling you:

Bitterness: It might be time to heal. Are you holding judgments against yourself or others?

Resentment: You may be stuck in the past, not allowing the present to unfold.

Discomfort: Pay attention—change may be necessary right now.

Disappointment: You care deeply about something you’re holding on to.

Guilt: You might be trying to live up to others' expectations instead of your own.

Shame: It may be time to work on your self-worth.

Regret: You might need to move on and explore new opportunities.

Anxiety: Consider learning new techniques to quiet your mind.

These are just a few examples. Emotions are complex, and this is only a glimpse into their magnitude.

Can emotions be controlled?

The simple answer is both yes and no. Emotions can be controlled to some extent. You’ve probably heard people say, “You need to control your emotions” or “Why are you always so emotional?” But the key question is what we mean by "control." I would argue that emotions should not be suppressed or denied, as this can lead to various issues. Instead, the goal should be managing and responding to emotions.

Emotions are signals trying to tell you something important, and they shouldn't be ignored for your well-being. Coaching can help bring awareness to the triggers of your emotions, beyond just external stimuli. Sometimes emotions are rooted in deeper unconscious layers, such as PTSD or trauma responses.

Unprocessed events or feelings can lead to inappropriate emotional responses. However, through self-awareness, reframing, practice, and learning, you can manage what you experience in a holistic way. Strategies and tools can help you regulate your emotions, leading to better emotional balance and resilience.

I would be honored to be your emotional navigator and work with you through this journey. Feel free to reach out via the contact form on my page.

Truly yours,

Angela