What is the difference between Feelings And Emotions?
Written by whisperboy on December 12, 2022
Hi! I hope you’re well. If you’re new here, my name is Cyrus, the creator of Whisperboy.com.
Before we begin, let me clear a few things up so I don’t waste your time—because time is your most valuable commodity. My mission is to help you live a happier and more fulfilled life today, not tomorrow. I do this by helping you make better decisions in your life, education, business, and personal relationships.
The future is never guaranteed, but you still deserve success. And success comes from taking positive, calculated, and effective actions—regardless of your age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, political views, or religious beliefs.
Right now, you might be thinking:
Is listening to this guy worth my time?
The answer is yes—unless your life is already perfect.
If it’s not, I highly recommend reading or listening carefully and taking notes.
Note-takers remember more, long after they learn something new. That makes them more resourceful and better at solving problems.
And one last thing: relax. Don’t overthink it. Listening to new ideas is safe.
Learning a different way of thinking won’t change your life—taking action will.
What’s the difference between feelings and emotions?
Most people think they’re the same thing.
They’re not.
Imagine walking into a very expensive clothing store, looking for a nice outfit. You’re saving for a holiday and can only afford one.
Three outfits immediately catch your eye. You touch the fabric, examine them all, and head to the changing room with two—because one of them just didn’t feel right.
Now you’re half-naked in the changing room, choosing which one to try first.
Fast forward: you’re smiling at the till because you feel you’ve made the best choice.
You’re smiling because you feel confident. You evaluated all your options and made an informed decision.
That’s the power of feelings.
They come from your emotional state—but they also influence it.
You feel good because your decision makes sense.
And the truth is, almost everything we do is to help ourselves feel good.
When we’re emotionally stable, we feel safe.
When we’re sure about our choices, we feel confident.
And one feeling often triggers another.
But here’s the catch:
You can only feel one emotion at a time.
You can switch between them quickly, but you only focus on one in any given moment.
Energy flows where focus goes.
The Parrot and the Goldfish
Picture this.
It’s a sunny day at a rural house.
The living room window is open.
A parrot flies in and perches on the fish tank.
He stares at the goldfish, then squawks:
“They’ve left your cage door wide open… why won’t you fly away?”
Now think about that.
Sometimes, life choices are as personal as toothbrushes.
Forcing someone to make the same choice as you is like making them brush their teeth with your used toothbrush.
Your best choice might be someone else’s worst.
Because their needs and life circumstances are different.
Also, if you’re the kind of person who always puts others first—good on you. But don’t expect everyone to do the same.
They’re too busy being themselves.
So, do the right thing if you choose to.
Not because you expect the same in return.
404 Error Thinking
Ever click a link and get a 404 Error Page Not Found?
It means the content you’re looking for doesn’t exist.
That’s what your brain does when you’re confused.
When someone behaves in a way you can’t explain, your mind throws a “404” and calls it weird.
But weird just means unfamiliar.
It’s a cue to seek more understanding.
And remember:
Your lack of knowledge is never someone else’s fault.
Behind Every Behaviour Is a Feeling—and Behind That, a Need
Human behaviour is like a three-layered cake:
The action or reaction
The feeling underneath
The unmet need beneath the feeling
Understand the need, not just the behaviour.
That’s how you become less reactive and more in control.
When you understand why someone does something, you’ll respond with logic—not emotion.
We all know people who react with anger, and others who stay calm.
Those who stay calm? They use logic.
And logic gives you time to make better decisions.
Knowledge plus reaction equals consequences.
Knowledge plus reaction plus time equals better consequences.
Shoe Salesmen Story
Two shoe salesmen arrive on a remote island of 2,000 people.
Everyone’s barefoot.
The first salesman is horrified.
He texts his manager:
“No one wears shoes here! I’m coming home.”
The second salesman sees opportunity.
He texts his manager:
“No one wears shoes here! Send 2,000 pairs immediately!”
Moral?
Your perception shapes your emotion.
Your emotion drives your action.
Energy flows where your focus goes.
Emotional Intelligence = Success
You don’t feel multiple emotions at once.
You feel one at a time, but they may come in quick succession.
And what you feel most often becomes your emotional default.
Let’s say you spill a cup of tea.
You’re annoyed—then frustrated—then disappointed.
But in five years, will that spilled tea even matter?
Probably not.
So why let it ruin your mood now?
Focus on what helps you move forward—not what holds you back.
If Your Emotions Were an Airplane…
You’d be the pilot.
But your subconscious past is the autopilot.
And autopilot is not what good pilots rely on during take-off and landing.
The critical moments in life require conscious control.
You’ve made decisions you regret.
We all have.
But regret is preventable.
The best way? Make better decisions now.
You can’t rewind time.
Trying to undo a bad choice is like trying to push toothpaste back into the tube.
Guilt vs Shame
Let’s say someone knocks your drink over in a restaurant.
If they apologise and try to make it up to you, they’re feeling guilt.
If they get defensive or ignore it, they’re feeling shame.
Guilt says: “I made a mistake.”
Shame says: “I am a mistake.”
Final Thought
Sure, we’ve advanced since cave paintings.
But emotionally, we’re still working with the same wiring.
Today we use emojis.
Back then, they painted walls.
Whether it’s emojis or emotions, it’s all about expressing how we feel—and managing those feelings wisely.
And just like birds leaving footprints in wet concrete, your thoughts and reactions leave permanent patterns in your mind.
You fall asleep when you’re tired.
But your brain never does.
Even at night, it’s sorting your thoughts, deciding what to keep and what to forget.
Remember:
Your brain’s job isn’t to make you happy.
Its job is to keep you alive and safe.
And it’s your job to choose which thoughts you accept, and which ones you reject.
Wendy Juno On June 20, 2023 at 2:18 am
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