Understanding Your Feelings and the Feelings of Others
Do you ever feel happy, sad, angry, or scared? Those are called feelings. Everyone has feelings, including you and the people around you. It's important to understand your own feelings and the feelings of others so you can have better relationships and be happier.
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What are feelings? Feelings are like emotions, but they are more specific. Emotions are general, such as happy or sad. Feelings are specific, like feeling excited or nervous. You can have many different feelings at once, and they can change quickly.
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How do you experience feelings? Your feelings come from inside you. They are based on things that happen to you and how you think about those things. For example, if someone is nice to you, you might feel happy. If someone is mean to you, you might feel angry or sad.
How To Be More Aware of Your Feelings
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Pay attention to your body. When you feel a strong emotion, your body might feel different. For example, if you're happy, you might feel like you want to jump up and down. If you're angry, you might feel like you want to hit something. By paying attention to your body, you can learn to recognize when you are feeling different emotions.
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Label your feelings. If you're feeling happy, say to yourself, "I'm feeling happy right now." This helps you understand what's going on inside you. By labeling your feelings, you give yourself the words to describe what you are feeling. This makes it easier for you to understand and talk about your emotions.
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Talk about your feelings with someone you trust. Talking can help you feel better and understand your feelings better. When you talk about your feelings, you get another perspective on what is going on. You also let others know how you are feeling, which helps them understand you better.
How To Be More Aware of Others' Feelings
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Watch their faces and bodies. People show how they feel with their faces and bodies. For example, if someone is happy, they might smile. If someone is angry, they might frown or cross their arms. By watching someone's face and body, you can learn to recognize what they are feeling.
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Ask them. If you're not sure how someone is feeling, ask them. You can say, "Are you okay? You look upset." When you ask someone how they are feeling, you give them the opportunity to tell you what is going on. You also show them that you care about their feelings.|
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Put yourself in their shoes. Think about what it would be like to be in their situation. This can help you understand how they might be feeling. When you try to imagine what it would be like to be in someone else's shoes, you can gain a better understanding of their feelings. This helps you be more empathetic and compassionate towards others.