We’ve all been there: feeling overwhelmed by anger, sadness, or anxiety. In the heat of the moment, it can be easy to believe that our feelings as facts, are absolute truths. But the reality is, that feelings are not facts.
In our minds, feelings, and facts are constantly messed up. There are moments when our feelings are so strong that we simply know they are real. But are we 100% sure that these feelings are facts? Do we have evidence? Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Nature of Feelings
Though their natures and durations are different, feelings and emotions are closely related. Emotions are natural, physiological reactions that are frequently fleeting and are brought on by certain stimuli, such as joy or fear.
On the other hand, feelings are longer-lasting, conscious experiences that result from the interpretation and comprehension of emotions, and they are shaped by individual experiences and beliefs.
Why Feelings Are Not Facts?
Feelings are subjective experiences that arise from stimuli, occurrences, or thoughts. They can impact our mood, behavior, and general perspective, and they can vary in duration and intensity. But they lack a factual basis. It’s possible that your feelings may born by the fears ingrained in you over time due to different life experiences may be deceptive.
While they are an important part of human life, we cannot deny their importance, rather there is a need to find balance in managing and understanding them. That’s where the true power lies.
Imagine yourself walking along the road when you spot someone laughing. You suddenly become self-conscious, fearing they are making fun of you. In reality, though, they might be laughing over a joke on their phone or anything entirely unrelated to you.
Instead of being supported by any facts or evidence, your sense of being judged is a product of your fears and assumptions. People are typically more preoccupied with their concerns.
Although fear is a powerful emotion, many of the emotional anxieties we experience in our daily lifestyle—like the fear of not being good enough, of failing, or of being alone—have no basis in reality. They have their roots in deeply ingrained fears and past traumas.
Even while you may have experienced bullying because of your appearance in the past, this does not mean that everyone agrees with the bully.
Our feelings may have a great deal of influence, particularly when they are based on fear. To understand the roots of our feelings, we must first recognize them. However, given that all feelings are not fact and fear frequently distorts them, discerning between feelings and reality becomes vital.
Impacts of trusting every feeling of us
You may make significant changes in your life by learning to trust each feeling you go through. For instance, you might pass up chances to apply for a job you’re qualified for if you believe that you have feelings of inferiority or low self-esteem.
Similarly, even if following a strict diet is bad for your health, you might stick with it if you trust your thoughts about being overweight.
When you trust your fears, you may avoid things even when the data suggests they’re safe. When someone is depressed, believing everything bad they feel heightened hopelessness and make things appear worse than they actually are. Remind yourself that feelings are not facts and are verifiable.
How to deal with feelings As Facts?
Scientist Anabel Jensen estimates that the body processes emotions in six seconds or less. Extended emotional states beyond this point indicate a deliberate decision to maintain such emotions. Although helpful in life-threatening circumstances, such as escaping a predator, prolonged emotions might not always be beneficial to us.
If someone doesn’t reply to your message right away, it’s simple to believe they don’t think you’re important anymore and are ignoring you.
But since they might have been involved in something else earlier, these acts are motivated more by a sense of mistrust than by actual facts. By making a distinction between feelings and facts, you may avoid misunderstandings and stop worrying about nothing!
It’s easy to mistake our emotional response for absolute truths. But the reality is, that feelings are not facts. Being able to distinguish between thoughts and feelings is part of our emotional intelligence. To help you get started, consider these steps:
Inhale (and perhaps take another breath).
The first thing to do when feelings are running high is to step back. Your body goes into relaxation mode when you take deep breaths, which can help you gain some perspective. You may notice your feelings throughout this little period of time without letting them control you.
Evaluate Your feelings
After gaining some composure, attempt to categorize your feelings. Are you experiencing anxiety, frustration, anger, or another emotion? Bring in your emotional awareness of where you’re coming from and what might be causing the feelings that can be gained by naming your emotions.
Seek Out the Details Using Emotional Reasoning
Let’s now separate the situation from the emotional rollercoaster. Which specific details are you able to identify? Was there a particular instance that made you feel something? Are you making assumptions or drawing conclusions from your response?
Push Your Thoughts
We frequently fabricate stories about situations as a result of our feelings. Are these stories based on reality? Perhaps you’re exaggerating a small setback. Provide facts to treat feelings and automatic beliefs to challenge them.
Acknowledge Your Feelings, But Don’t Let Them Control Your Decisions
Differentiate between feelings and emotions from facts. Even if feelings are not facts but they are real. It won’t help to suppress them. Recognize your feelings, but try not to allow them to control how you react.
Increase in emotional awareness by reflecting on your behavior and attitudes, for this is a significant part of gaining control of your feelings. Seek mental health professionals or psychotherapists if you don’t find anything benefitting you.
