Feel Good and be Happy

By Muhammad Iqbal Malik

Feelings and emotions are an important indicator about our well-being and reflect how well we are doing, and coping with life circumstances. While emotions are often a consequence of certain situations and actions they also have a significant influence on our thought, attitudes, choices and actions.

Positive feelings contribute towards a healthy mind and body; negative feelings on the other hand can drain our energy and make us ineffective in whatever we think and do.

Self-awareness and regulation of one’s emotions are components of emotional intelligence, which is recognized as a significant factor of both personal and professional success.

Given below is a chart of emotions¹ classified into 6 basic categories – love, joy, anger, fear, sadness and surprise. Love and joy are positive emotions whereas anger, fear and sadness are considered negative emotions. Surprise is referred to as a neutral emotion.

Use this chart to evaluate how you feel in general. To change your current state, just pick an emotion you desire and plan your day (or hour) accordingly.

Develop the right habits. Engage in activities that excite you or the ones that could possibly lead to the desired emotion. Be around people that make you feel good. But most importantly monitor your emotions regularly and shift your negative thought as soon as it arises. Always remember that happiness is just a state of mind.

Love		Joy
Adoration Affection Love Fondness Liking Attraction Caring Tenderness Compassion Sentimentality	Desire Passion Infatuation	Amusement Cheerfulness Joy Delight Enjoyment Gladness Happiness Jubilation Elation Satisfaction Ecstacy Euphoria	Enthusiasm Zeal Zest Excitement Thrill Exhilaration	Contentment Pleasure	Pride Triumph	Eagerness Hope Optimism	Enthralment	Relief
Anger						Fear
Aggravation Irritation Agitation Annoyance Grumpiness	Frustration	Anger Rage Outrage Fury Wrath Hostility Ferocity Bitterness Hate Scorn Spite Vengefulness Dislike Resentment	Disgust Revulsion	Envy Jealousy	Torment	Alarm Shock Fear Fright Horror Terror Panic Hysteria Mortification	Anxiety Nervousness Tenseness Uneasiness Apprehension Worry Distress Dread
Sadness						Surprise
Agony Suffering Hurt Anguish	Depression Despair Hopelessness Gloom Sadness Unhappiness Grief Sorrow Woe Misery Melancholy	Dismay Disappointment Displeasure	Guilt Shame Regret Remorse	Alienation Isolation Neglect Loneliness Rejection Homesickness Defeat Dejection Insecurity Embarrassment Humiliation Feeling insulted	Pity Sympathy	Amazement Surprise Astonishment

¹ Based on hierarchical cluster analysis of emotions by Phillip Shaver

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