The Feelings Chart

The following is a crucial part of the initial stage of the training, wherein we learn the roots of angry emotions. This is where the potential shifts from anger management/control to RESOLUTION. We can gain the understanding to identify UNMET NEEDS and begin to move out of the cycle.

Feelings are often called emotions. They come from within us. These emotions send us messages about our world. The emotional message talks about:

1. GAIN:Our world is giving us something that makes us glad or happy.

2. LOSS:Our world is taking away something we want to keep.

These messages can be about things that; have happened in the past, are happening right now, or things that might happen in the future.

There are four basic emotions in this model: GLAD, EXCITED, SAD, and AFRAID.

Feelings Chart used with permission
by Dave Moore and Associates
Olympic Counseling Services, Tacoma, WA

Looking at anger positively, anger may:

Fortify us to protect ourselves from expected or future loss.

Give us the physical energy to return to activity after suffering a loss and accompanying grief.

Motivate us to seek to replace an experienced loss or unmet need.

Signal unconscious unmet needs that we might address.

Alert others of needs that we may not have the support, competence, or information to fulfill ourselves.

Assist us to maintain personal, cultural, or spiritual dignity in a hostile environment or culture.

Make it possible to maintain a rational reality-based "touchstone" in the midst of current or historical lies and falsehoods.

Questions, Comments...

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