Pierre Follow Slow-traveller, engineer, hiker, permaculturist, meditator.

NVC : Expressing Emotions and Needs

Being aware of our emotions and being able to communicate them to others is key to healthy communication. Expanding your emotional vocabulary and deepening self-awareness can significantly enhance how you connect with yourself and others. Here are some words you can use to express emotions, with more nuances than “I feel good” or “I feel bad”.

Emotional Literacy

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Emotions when Needs are Met

AFFECTIONATE

compassionate
friendly
loving
open hearted
sympathetic
tender
warm
caring
fond

CONFIDENT

empowered
open
proud
safe
secure

ENGAGED

absorbed
alert
curious
enchanted
engrossed
entranced
fascinated
interested
intrigued
involved
spellbound
stimulated
motivated

EXCITED

amazed
animated
ardent
aroused
horny
astonished
dazzled
eager
energetic
enthusiastic
giddy
invigorated
lively
passionate
surprised
vibrant
jazzed

EXHILARATED

blissful
ecstatic
elated
enthralled
exuberant
radiant
rapturous
thrilled

GRATEFUL

appreciative
moved
thankful
touched

HOPEFUL

expectant
encouraged
optimistic

INSPIRED

amazed
awed
wonder

JOYFUL

amused
delighted
glad
happy
jubilant
pleased
tickled
playful

PEACEFUL

calm
centered
clear headed
comfortable
content
equanimous
fulfilled
mellow
quiet
relaxed
relieved
satisfied
serene
still
tranquil
trusting

REFRESHED

enlivened
rejuvenated
renewed
rested
restored
revived

Emotions when Needs are NOT Met

AFRAID

apprehensive
dread
foreboding
frightened
mistrustful
panicked
petrified
scared
suspicious
terrified
wary
worried
concerned
shy
sceptical

ANGRY

enraged
furious
incensed
indignant
irate
livid
outraged
resentful
revolted
bitter

ANNOYED

aggravated
disgruntled
dismayed
displeased
exasperated
frustrated
impatient
irked
irritated

AVERSION

animosity
appalled
contempt
disgusted
dislike
hate
horrified
hostile
repulsed

CONFUSED

ambivalent
baffled
bewildered
dazed
hesitant
lost
mystified
perplexed
puzzled
torn
reluctant

DISCONNECTED

alienated
aloof
apathetic
bored
cold
detached
distant
distracted
indifferent
numb
removed
uninterested
withdrawn
empty
lazy

DISQUIET

agitated
alarmed
discombobulated
disconcerted
disturbed
perturbed
rattled
restless
shocked
startled
surprised
troubled
turbulent
turmoil
uncomfortable
uneasy
unnerved
unsettled
upset

EMBARRASSED

ashamed
chagrined
flustered
guilty
mortified
self-conscious

FATIGUE

beat
burnt out
depleted
exhausted
lethargic
listless
sleepy
tired
weary
worn out

PAIN

agony
anguished
bereaved
devastated
grief
heartbroken
hurt
lonely
miserable
regretful
remorseful

SAD

dejected
depressed
despair
despondent
disappointed
discouraged
disheartened
forlorn
gloomy
heavy hearted
hopeless
melancholic
unhappy
wretched

TENSE

anxious
cranky
distressed
distraught
edgy
fidgety
frazzled
irritable
jittery
nervous
overwhelmed
restless
stressed out

VULNERABLE

fragile
guarded
helpless
insecure
leery
reserved
sensitive
shaky

YEARNING

envious
jealous
longing
nostalgic
pining
wistful

Faux Feelings

The following words are often confused as feelings when they are interpretations or assessments of others’ actions.

abandoned
abused
accused
attacked
belittled
betrayed
blamed
bullied
cheapened
cheated
coerced
condemned
controlled
cornered
criticized
devalued
diminished
discredited
dismissed
disparaged
disrespected
distrusted
excluded
harassed
ignored
insulted
interrupted
intimidated
invalidated
judged
let down
manipulated
micromanaged
misunderstood
mistrusted
neglected
offended
oppressed
patronized
pressured
provoked
put down
rejected
ridiculed
ripped off
scapegoated
shamed
taken for granted
threatened
tricked
trivialized
unappreciated
unheard
unloved
unseen
unsupported
unwanted
used
victimized
vilified
violated
wronged
exposed
inferior
insignificant
useless
valued
respected
accepted
loved
appreciated
understood

Universal Human Needs

nvc needs