Week 2 of 12
Recognizing & Accurately Naming Emotions
Name it to navigate it.
Using an emotion wheel, participants expand vocabulary from a few broad words to precise, nuanced language.
Learning objectives
- Identify six core emotion families and at least five nuanced words in each.
- Use an emotion wheel to move from general to specific feelings.
- Recognize that multiple emotions can coexist.
- Practice labeling emotions in self and in fictional scenarios.
Teaching notes
- Emotional granularity — the ability to make fine distinctions between feelings — is associated in research with more flexible coping.
- Some cultures and families have different emotion vocabularies; honor home-language words.
- Avoid ranking emotions as positive/negative; prefer 'pleasant/unpleasant' or 'comfortable/uncomfortable'.
Examples & scenarios
Beyond 'stressed'
Jordan says he's stressed at work. Using the wheel, he discovers he feels overlooked after a promotion decision and anxious about finances — two different needs.
The teacher at 3 p.m.
Ms. Alvarez notices she feels 'off' after class. Naming it as 'depleted' and 'discouraged' helps her ask for a planning partner instead of withdrawing.
Graduation day
A mother feels joy, grief and nostalgia as her youngest leaves home. Naming all three helps her stop asking 'what's wrong with me?'
Weekly action step
Use the Feelings Finder once daily and record at least 7 new emotion words in your journal by next session.
Optional Scripture reflection
Offered for those who find faith meaningful; feel free to skip.
John 11:35
Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus. What does this suggest about the place of grief in a life of faith?
Psalm 42:5
The psalmist speaks honestly to his own soul about being downcast. How might naming emotions be part of prayer?