If you are more of a bottom up processor with an eye for detail, it might be easier the other way around and just go one by one on the outer emotions and see which things come up in yourself, which associations and bodily feelings by reading that word, and see if is this where you wanted to go.
It’s also possible to look at them as categories, if you know approximately which direction you want your text to go, like «something insecure but not quite» and look at the other words next to insecure, the inner circles and outer.
I find it more useful to use it as a discovery tool or a dictionary of sorts than a template from the inner circle to the outer. And I think finding your own way of connecting with the tool can be helpful in navigating it. But also maybe that’s not the right tool for you!
I think it’s always looking to see how a tool works for the way you think. Most people (myself included) I think struggle to see the nuance of emotion until they start to bring it to the surface, which is why starting with just negative or positive can help get you used to noticing them.
But if you’re overwhelmed because you see all the details of emotion all the time, starting on the outside might be easier.
Yes, brains and processing of emotions and bodily cues can vary a lot between people and some, like me, process bottom up, from details first to broader categories after. To find what works for oneself is the key:)
I give some suggestions in the piece. Start in the middle of the wheel at the broad emotions like ‘happy’ and ‘sad.’ This is just broadly figuring out if the emotion is positive or negative. If you’re not used to even thinking about the emotions, bringing these up to the surface and intentionally spotting them might take some work.
Then when you get comfortable identifying those, you should find it easier to spot the nuance in the second wheel.
I have always found the emotion wheel overwhelming, any suggestions on how to gently approach it?
If you are more of a bottom up processor with an eye for detail, it might be easier the other way around and just go one by one on the outer emotions and see which things come up in yourself, which associations and bodily feelings by reading that word, and see if is this where you wanted to go.
It’s also possible to look at them as categories, if you know approximately which direction you want your text to go, like «something insecure but not quite» and look at the other words next to insecure, the inner circles and outer.
I find it more useful to use it as a discovery tool or a dictionary of sorts than a template from the inner circle to the outer. And I think finding your own way of connecting with the tool can be helpful in navigating it. But also maybe that’s not the right tool for you!
I think it’s always looking to see how a tool works for the way you think. Most people (myself included) I think struggle to see the nuance of emotion until they start to bring it to the surface, which is why starting with just negative or positive can help get you used to noticing them.
But if you’re overwhelmed because you see all the details of emotion all the time, starting on the outside might be easier.
Yes, brains and processing of emotions and bodily cues can vary a lot between people and some, like me, process bottom up, from details first to broader categories after. To find what works for oneself is the key:)
I give some suggestions in the piece. Start in the middle of the wheel at the broad emotions like ‘happy’ and ‘sad.’ This is just broadly figuring out if the emotion is positive or negative. If you’re not used to even thinking about the emotions, bringing these up to the surface and intentionally spotting them might take some work.
Then when you get comfortable identifying those, you should find it easier to spot the nuance in the second wheel.
Hope this helps!
Thank you for the concept, it resnated even on day to day emotion shifting moments.
glad to hear it helped!
This was so practical and helpful! I love a feelings wheel check-in and will be adapting that to my writing practice!
Thanks!