
emotional precision (part 1)
A PRECISE emotional vocabulary gives your brain better tools for dealing with life's challenges.
In this activity, we show you how you can get more PRECISE with your emotions.
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how are you feeling today?
Here is a quick question for you.
Just type your answer into the box and press next.
about your answer
Now, we bet that you typed 'good' into the box above, did we guess right?
If you didn't say 'good', you probably said something like 'ok', 'not bad', 'fine', or'happy'.
Most of the time when asked how we feel, we reply with these simple answers, and whilst there is nothing wrong with that, it's much, much better if you are more PRECISE.
We explain why next.
3 reasons why it's nice to be precise

- 1Research shows that being PRECISE about how you feel has many benefits from better performance at school to a longer, healthier life.
- 2Being PRECISE with your emotional states means that you experience the world around you more accurately, it also helps you to have better relationships (with yourself and with others).
- 3A rich and full emotional vocabulary gives your brain better (more precise) tools for dealing with the challenges you will face in your life.
how your brain makes emotions
Your brain's main job is to look after your body (without it, your brain would not be able to work).
It does this by constantly trying to predict what your body will need in order to cope with the situation it finds itself in.
And your brain predicts what is coming largely based upon what has happened before.
How does this knowledge help us?
Your brain searches for past experiences to help it to make sense of what is coming next.
So, by being more PRECISE with your experiences, your brain has more CHOICE and can COMMUNICATE what you are feeling more accurately.
It's the same as speaking a language, the more words you know, the better able you are to express yourself and communicate.
here's an example
As we saw before we often think about how we feel in simple terms so let's take the emotion BAD..
Click on the box below to see how many different ways of feeling 'BAD' there are.
I'm feeling BAD
Ok, so you feel BAD.
But which type of BAD do you feel, BORED, BUSY, STRESSED, or TIRED?
Click on a word below to get more specific.
I am feeling Bored
Can you see how feeling BORED is very different from feeling BAD?
But, is bored as precise as you can get?
If it is then investigate BORED further using the buttons below.
Or maybe instead of BORED you feel more like indifferent or apathetic?
If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
I am feeling Indifferent
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done.
Can you see how feeling INDIFFERENT is very different from feeling BAD or BORED?
Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
I am feeling Apathetic
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done.
Can you see how feeling APATHETIC is very different from feeling BAD or BORED?
Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
I am feeling Busy
Can you see how feeling BUSY is very different from feeling BAD?
But, is BUSY as precise as you can get?
If so great, investigate BUSY further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more than BUSY, you feel pressured or rushed?
If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Pressured
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done.
Can you see how feeling PRESSURED is very different from feeling BAD or BUSY?
Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Rushed
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done.
Can you see how feeling RUSHED is very different from feeling BAD or BUSY?
Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
I am feeling Stressed
Can you see how feeling STRESSED is very different from feeling BAD?
But, is STRESSED as precise as you can get?
If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like overwhelmed or in disarray instead of STRESSED?
If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Overwhelmed
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done.
Can you see how feeling OVERWHELMED is very different from feeling BAD or STRESSED?
Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Disarray
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done.
Can you see how feeling in DISARRAY is very different from feeling BAD or STRESSED?
Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
I am feeling Tired
Can you see how feeling TIRED is very different from feeling BAD?
But, is TIRED as precise as you can get?
If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like sleepy or unfocused?
If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Sleepy
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done.
Can you see how feeling SLEEPY is very different from feeling BAD pr TIRED?
Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Unfocused
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done.
Can you see how feeling UNFOCUSED is very different from feeling BAD or TIRED?
Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
As you can see, feeling BAD can actually mean many different things.
So being SPECIFIC about how you feel is very important.
There is a huge difference between feeling BAD, or feeling STRESSED, or feeling in complete DISARRAY.
How you deal with each one of these emotions requires very different tools and strategies.
why this is important
Simply saying you feel BAD, is a bit like going to the Dr's and saying you feel pain.
Without knowing exactly where the pain is, how painful it is, how long you've had the pain, and how often it hurts, a Dr couldn't possibly give you the right medicine.
It's the same with your emotions.
If you can learn to label your emotions accurately, you can diagnose the problem and then prescribe yourself the right medicine.
an example
As we said earlier, there is a huge difference between feeling BAD, or feeling STRESSED, or feeling in complete DISARRAY.
If you diagnose how you feel as BAD, this is too inaccurate, you can't prescribe the right medicine.
If you are feeling STRESSED, you might choose to solve the problem by going for a walk, or prioritising your actions.
Whereas in DISARRAY, you might want to ask someone for help.
By being PRECISE with your emotions you can find the right solution.
let's get precise
If you start to learn new emotional words today, your brain will be better at finding the right emotions tomorrow.
This means that you can be much more INTELLIGENT with how you deal with your emotions!
We have created an activity sheet that will help you to learn to be more PRECISE with your emotions.
- 1a paper version of the PRECISE EMOTION SELECTOR (page 1)
- 2an activity to help you see how many different emotions you feel each day (page 2)
- 3a challenge: see how many different emotions you can feel over the next 7 days (page 3)
precise emotion selector: online version
Click on one of the 7 MAIN emotions below that sounds the closest to how you are feel.
Each MAIN emotion has another 2 levels of emotions that you can explore.
See how PRECISE you can get with how you feel.
Happy
Ok, so you feel happy. Now let's see if we can get more specific... click on the word below which best describes how you feel.
Playful
Is playful as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like aroused or cheeky? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Aroused
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Cheeky
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Content
Is content as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like free or joyful? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Free
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Joyful
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Interested
Is interested as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like curious or inquisitive? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Curious
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Inquisitive
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Proud
Is proud as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like successful or confident? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Successful
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Confident
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Accepted
Is accepted as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like respected or valued? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Respected
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Valued
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Powerful
Is powerful as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like courageous or creative? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Courageous
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Creative
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Peaceful
Is peaceful as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like loving or thankful? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Loving
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Thankful
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Trusting
Is trusting as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like sensitive or intimate? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Sensitive
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Intimate
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Optimistic
Is optimistic as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like hopeful or inspired? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Hopeful
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Inspired
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Fearful
Ok, so you feel fearful. Now let's see if we can get more specific... click on the word below which best describes how you feel.
Scared
Is scared as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like helpless or frightened? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Helpless
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Frightened
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Anxious
Is anxious as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like overwhelmed or worried? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Overwhelmed
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Worried
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Insecure
Is insecure as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like inadequate or inferior? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Inadequate
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Inferior
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Weak
Is weak as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like insignificant or excluded? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Insignificant
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Excluded
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Rejected
Is rejected as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like exluded or persecuted? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Excluded
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Persecuted
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Threatened
Is threatened as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like nervous or exposed? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Nervous
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Exposed
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Surprised
Ok, so you feel surprised. Now let's see if we can get more specific... click on the word below which best describes how you feel.
Startled
Is startled as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like shocked or dismayed? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Shocked
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Dismayed
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Confused
Is confused as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like disillusioned or perplexed? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Disillusioned
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Perplexed
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Amazed
Is amazed as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like astonished or awe? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Astonished
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Awe
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Excited
Is excited as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like eager or energetic? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Eager
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Energetic
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Angry
Ok, so you feel angry. Now let's see if we can get more specific... click on the word below which best describes how you feel.
Let down
Is let down as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like betrayed or resentful? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Betrayed
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Resentful
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Humiliated
Is humiliated as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like disrespected or ridiculed? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Disrespected
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Ridiculed
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Bitter
Is bitter as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like indignant or violated? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Indignant
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Violated
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Mad
Is mad as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like furious or jealous? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Furious
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Jealous
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Aggressive
Is aggressive as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like provoked or hostile? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Provoked
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Hostile
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Frustrated
Is frustrated as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like infuriated or annoyed? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Infuriated
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Annoyed
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Distant
Is distant as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like withdrawn or numb? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Withdrawn
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Numb
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Critical
Is critical as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like sceptical or dismissive? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Sceptical
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Dismissive
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Sad
Ok, so you feel sad. Now let's see if we can get more specific... click on the word below which best describes how you feel.
Hurt
Is hurt as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like embarrassed or disappointed? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Embarrassed
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Disappointed
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Depressed
Is depressed as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like inferior or empty? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Inferior
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Empty
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Guilty
Is guilty as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like remorseful or ashamed? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Remorseful
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Ashamed
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Lonely
Is lonely as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like isolated or abandoned? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Isolated
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Abandoned
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Vulnerable
Is vulnerable as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like victimised or fragile? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Victimised
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Fragile
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Despair
Is despair as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like grief or powerless? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Grief
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Powerless
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Bad
Ok, so you feel bad. Now let's see if we can get more specific... click on the word below which best describes how you feel.
Bored
Is bored as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like indifferent or apathetic? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Indifferent
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Apathetic
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Busy
Is busy as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like pressured or rushed? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Pressured
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Rushed
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Stressed
Is stressed as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like overwhelmed or in disarray? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Overwhelmed
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Disarray
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Tired
Is tired as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like sleepy or unfocused? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Sleepy
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Unfocused
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Disgusted
Ok, so you feel disgusted. Now let's see if we can get more specific... click on the word below which best describes how you feel.
Disapproving
Is disapproving as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like judgmental or embarassed? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Judgmental
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Embarrassed
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Disappointed
Is disappointed as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like appalled or revulsion? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Appalled
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Revulsion
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Awful
Is awful as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like nauseated or detestable? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Nauseated
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Detestable
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Repelled
Is repelled as precise as you can get? If so, investigate your emotion further using the buttons below.
Or maybe you feel more like horrified or hesitant? If so, click on the word that describes how you feel most precisely.
Horrified
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
Hesitant
You managed to be even more precise with your emotion, well done. Now check out your emotion using the buttons below.
If your emotion isn't described, we have also included a link to a dictionary, thesaurus and a words visualiser to help you find the emotion you are feeling (see below).
can't find your emotion?
Use the VISUALISER, DICTIONARY or THESAURUS below to find it.