Naming emotions helps you understand yourself and respond instead of just reacting.

Emotions are messages from your brain and body.

When you can put a name to a feeling, you start to make sense of what’s going on inside.

Instead of just “bad,” maybe it’s *disappointed, stressed, jealous, or nervous*.

Each word gives you a clue about what’s really happening — and what might help.

Try noticing

• What emotion you’re feeling.
• How strong it is (mild, medium, or intense).
• What might have triggered it.
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You can build your emotional vocabulary by

• Using words that fit your level of feeling (e.g. “annoyed” vs. “furious”).
• Reflecting on how emotions change throughout the day.
• Talking openly about feelings — it’s a skill that gets easier with practice.

The more precisely you can name a feeling, the more control you have over how you deal with it. 

More about naming feelings in the toolkit