Emotions and feelings are all traits that we share as humans.
Many people use the terms “feelings” and “emotions” interchangeably, but they’re not really the same. While they have similar elements there’s a marked difference between the two.
Emotions are mostly universal and are not conscious, but instead manifest themselves in the unconscious mind. An emotion can only ever be felt through the emotional experiences it gives rise to, even though it might be discovered through its associated thoughts, beliefs, desires and actions. In certain cases, emotions can be brought to the surface of the conscious state through psychotherapy.
Feelings are a conscious experience so we’re aware of them, although not every conscious experience, such as seeing or believing, is a feeling. Emotional experiences and physical sensations such as hunger or pain bring about feelings.
Emotions contain real time data triggered by changes in the environment and sensations in the body – a reaction to the present reality. For example, when you’re in an unknown place you may feel a range of emotions such as curiosity and fear.
Since emotions are physical states they can be measured by physical factors such as facial expressions, body language, heartbeat, blood flow, breathing rate, to name but a few.
Listening to our bodily emotions informed by our sense perception helps us connect to the reality of our present experience.
Feelings, on the other hand, can be hidden if they occur at all. Feelings are often influenced by personal experience, beliefs and memories. Potentially inaccurate beliefs may underpin some of our feelings because we’ve consciously created an awareness of them and how they affect us. They can vary from person to person and so they may be unique to us.
Another way to look at the fundamental difference between emotions and feelings, is that emotions manifest either consciously or subconsciously whilst feelings are experienced consciously.
Another factor differentiating the two is time. Emotions come first, then feelings come after as the biochemical signals of the neurological pathways and the endocrine system get to work in our bodies.
So the order of an unexpected, unpleasant event is, I’m threatened, I experience fear, and I feel frightened and scared.
