What are your emotions telling you?

Emotions are not inherently good or bad. They serve as valuable signals that provide information about our inner experiences, needs, and values. Each emotion serves a purpose and communicates something important about our internal state and the world around us.

Watch this short film, “Planet Emotions” produced by first year students from Digital Communications and Integrated Media programme at Singapore Institute of Technology - Abdul Rauf Bin Rafik, Colby Kiong, Lee Ming Han, Muhammad Faiz Helmi Bin Rosdi and Sivadasan Lakshmi Mayi.

Understand the signals of emotions

Here are the purposes behind some common emotions:

FEAR

Signal: an emotion that arises in response to perceived threats or dangers. It can manifest as feelings of apprehension, nervousness, or dread.

Purpose: Fear serves as a protective mechanism, alerting us to potential harm and preparing us for fight, flight or freeze responses. It prompts us to assess our surroundings, anticipate risks, and take precautions to ensure our safety.

SADNESS

Signal: Sadness is characterised by feelings of sorrow, grief, or melancholy. It often arises in response to loss, disappointment, or unmet expectations.

Purpose: Sadness signals that something meaningful to us has been lost or compromised. It encourages us to process emotions, reflect on our experience and review what is valuable to us.

ANGER

Signal: Anger involves feelings of frustration, irritation, or indignation in response to perceived injustices, conflicts, or violations of boundaries.

Purpose: Anger serves as a signal that our needs, values, or boundaries may have been disregarded or threatened. It mobilizes energy for assertive action and can motivate us to address underlying issues or assert our rights.

ENVY

Signal: Envy typically arises in response to a perceived lack of something desirable possessed by another person. It involves feelings of resentment, longing, and sometimes inferiority.

Purpose: Envy can serve as a signal that highlights unmet desires or unfulfilled needs within us. It may indicate areas where we feel inadequate.

SHAME

Signal: Shame is a deeply uncomfortable emotion characterised by feelings of inadequacy, unworthiness, or exposure. It often arises from perceived failure or social judgement.

Purpose: Shame serves as a signal that our actions or behaviours may be incongruent with social norms. It can highlight areas where we may need to reassess our choices, behaviours, or self-perceptions.

GUILT

Signal: Guilt is characterized by feelings of remorse, regret, or self-blame arising from a belief that one has violated a moral or ethical standard or caused harm to others.

Purpose: Guilt serves as a signal that our actions or choices may have deviated from our internal standards or values. It prompts us to recognize the impact of our behaviour on ourselves and others. We may not like the feeling of guilt, but it motivates us to take responsibility for our action and become a better version of ourselves.

When you experience strong emotions, take a moment to slow down and reflect on why they have arisen. In the next lesson, we will explore effective ways to express these emotions and provide tips on emotions regulation.