Communicating Emotions: Useful Words
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Marshall Rosenberg’s book Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life offers an invaluable method for helping to resolve conflicts constructively, whether you’re directly involved or not, and even if you’re the only person there who knows anything about it.
Among the resources offered on the Nonviolent Communication Web site at http://www.cnvc.org/learn/resources is a list of words used to describe emotions. These are valuable in any kind of communication about feelings partly because of how tricky it sometimes is to convey exactly how we feel to another person and partly to help us differentiate between emotions and judgments.
Feelings when your needs are satisfied
|
AFFECTIONATE
compassionate
friendly
loving
open hearted
sympathetic
tender
|
CONFIDENT
empowered
open
proud
safe
secure
|
GRATEFUL
appreciative
moved
thankful
touched
|
INSPIRED
amazed
awed
wonder
|
|
PEACEFUL
calm
clear headed
comfortable
centered
content
equanimous
fulfilled
mellow
quiet
relaxed
relieved
satisfied
serene
still
tranquil
trusting
|
EXCITED
amazed
animated
ardent
aroused
astonished
dazzled
eager
energetic
enthusiastic
giddy
invigorated
lively
passionate
surprised
|
ENGAGED
absorbed
alert
curious
engrossed
enchanted
entranced
fascinated
interested
intrigued
involved
spellbound
stimulated
|
EXHILARATED
blissful
ecstatic
elated
enthralled
exuberant
radiant
rapturous
thrilled
|
|
JOYFUL
amused
delighted
glad
happy
jubilant
pleased
tickled
|
REFRESHED
enlivened
rejuvenated
renewed
rested
restored
revived
|
HOPEFUL
expectant
encouraged
optimistic
|
Feelings when your needs are not satisfied
|
AFRAID
apprehensive
dread
foreboding
frightened
mistrustful
panicked
petrified
scared
suspicious
terrified
wary
worried
|
CONFUSED
ambivalent
baffled
bewildered
dazed
hesitant
lost
mystified
perplexed
puzzled
torn
|
FATIGUE
beat
burnt out
depleted
exhausted
lethargic
listless
sleepy
tired
weary
worn out
|
DISCONNECTED
alienated
aloof
apathetic
bored
cold
detached
distant
distracted
indifferent
numb
removed
uninterested
withdrawn
|
|
ANNOYED
aggravated
dismayed
disgruntled
displeased
exasperated
frustrated
impatient
irritated
irked
|
PAIN
agony
anguished
bereaved
devastated
grief
heartbroken
hurt
lonely
miserable
regretful
remorseful
|
DISQUIET
agitated
alarmed
discombobulated
disconcerted
disturbed
perturbed
rattled
restless
shocked
startled
surprised
troubled
turbulent
turmoil
uncomfortable
uneasy
unnerved
unsettled
upset
|
SAD
depressed
dejected
despair
despondent
disappointed
discouraged
disheartened
forlorn
gloomy
heavy hearted
hopeless
melancholy
unhappy
wretched
|
|
EMBARRASSED
ashamed
chagrined
flustered
guilty
mortified
self-conscious
|
ANGRY
enraged
furious
incensed
indignant
irate
livid
outraged
resentful
|
AVERSION
animosity
appaled
contempt
disgusted
dislike
hate
horrified
hostile
repulsed
|
(c) 2005 by Center for Nonviolent Communication
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