Emotions Defined
Emotions are our spirit's responses to experiences that either affirm or deny it.
For example, anger is our spirit's response to something that threatens it. So is fear. Joy is our spirit's response to something that affirms it.
Where We Feel Our Emotions
We feel our emotions, not in our mind or head, but lower down, in the center of our body: a circular area between our nipples that encompasses our breast bone. We often call this area our heart. Heart is a synonym for spirit. The Ancient Greeks named this area thumos. Romans called it spiritus, the origin of our word spirit. Our spirit is that which makes us alive.
From Low to High Intensity
Our emotions range in intensity from low to high. For example, gladness can range from a mild pleasure to ecstasy. Anger can range from a minor irritation to rage.
Acute and Chronic Emotions
Our spirit's emotional response can be either acute and chronic. Our acute emotions arise suddenly and dissipate during a relatively short period of time. For example, we can see what we think is a snake, suddenly feel fear, realize it is a stick, and quickly feel relieved.
Our chronic emotions can arise suddenly or gradually and remain for a relatively long period of time. Some remain for the duration of our life. For example, after someone we love dies and we can feel sad and grieve for them for years.
Part 2 will explore experience-based and mind-based emotions
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