The following list of words are used to express a combination of emotional states and physical sensations. This list is neither exhaustive nor definitive. It is meant as a starting place to help you develop your emotional vocabulary, engage in a process of deepening self-discovery and to facilitate greater understanding and connection between people.. When you get stuck, and struggle to communicate your needs, you can use this list as a reference guide.
There are two parts to this list: feelings we may have when our needs are being met and feelings we may have when our needs are not being met.
If you are new to learning Nonviolent Communication and you'd like to deepen your understanding of needs, we suggest you look for Introductory Skill Level resources in the NVC Multimedia Library.
Feelings when your needs are satisfied:
AFFECTIONATE compassionate friendly loving open hearted sympathetic tender warm ENGAGED absorbed alert curious engrossed enchanted entranced fascinated interested intrigued involved spellbound stimulated HOPEFUL expectant encouraged optimistic | CONFIDENT empowered open proud safe secure EXCITED amazed animated ardent aroused astonished dazzled eager energetic enthusiastic giddy invigorated lively passionate surprised vibrant | GRATEFUL appreciative moved thankful touched INSPIRED amazed awed wonder JOYFUL amused delighted glad happy jubilant pleased tickled EXHILARATED blissful ecstatic elated enthralled exuberant radiant rapturous thrilled | PEACEFUL calm clear headed comfortable centered content equanimous fulfilled mellow quiet relaxed relieved satisfied serene still tranquil trusting REFRESHED enlivened rejuvenated renewed rested restored revived |
Feelings when your needs are not satisfied:
AFRAID apprehensive dread foreboding frightened mistrustful panicked petrified scared suspicious terrified wary worried ANNOYED aggravated dismayed disgruntled displeased exasperated frustrated impatient irritated irked ANGRY enraged furious incensed indignant irate livid outraged resentful AVERSION animosity appalled contempt disgusted dislike hate horrified hostile repulsed | CONFUSED ambivalent baffled bewildered dazed hesitant lost mystified perplexed puzzled torn DISCONNECTED alienated aloof apathetic bored cold detached distant distracted indifferent numb removed uninterested withdrawn DISQUIET agitated alarmed discombobulated disconcerted disturbed perturbed rattled restless shocked startled surprised troubled turbulent turmoil uncomfortable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 depressed dejected despair despondent disappointed discouraged disheartened forlorn gloomy heavy hearted hopeless melancholy 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 |
Here's a longer list, shown alphabetically.
Feelings when your needs are satisfied:
Absorbed Adventurous Affectionate Alert Alive Amorous Animated Appreciative Amazed Amused Aroused Astonished Astounded Awake Awed Blissful Breathless Buoyant Calm Carefree Comfortable Confident Contented Cozy Curious Cushy Dazzled Delighted Eager Ecstatic | Ebullient Effervescent Elated Electrified Enchanted Encouraged Energetic Engrossed Enlivened Enthralled Enthusiastic Exalted Excited Exhilarated Expansive Expectant Exuberant Fascinated Fondness Friendly Fulfilled Gay Giddy Glad Gleeful Glorious Glowing Grateful Gratified Grief | Happy Helpful Hopeful Humbled Inquisitive Inspired Interested Intrigued Invigorated Involved Joyful Joyous Jubilant Liberated Loving Mellow Merry Mirthful Moved Optimistic Overwhelmed Passionate Peaceful Perky Pleased Proud Puzzled Quiet Radiant Rapturous | Refreshed Reinvigorated Rejuvenated Relaxed Relieved Renewed Rested Restored Revived Safe Satisfied Secure Serene Shocked Spacious Spellbound Startled Still Stimulated Stunned Surprised Tender Thankful Thrilled Tickled Tranquil Touched Upbeat Uplifted Warm Zestful |
Feelings when your needs are not satisfied:
Afraid Aggravated Agitation Alarmed Aloof Angry Anguish Animosity Annoyance Anxious Apathetic Appalled Apprehensive Ashamed Aversion Awful Bad Beat Bewildered Bitter Blah Blue Bored Breathless Brokenhearted Chagrined Cold Concerned Confused Cool Contrite Cross Dejected Depressed Despair Despondent Detached Diffident Disappointed Disconnected Discouraged | Disenchanted Disgruntled Disgusted Disheartened Disinterested Dislike Dismayed Displeased Disquieted Distant Distraught Distressed Disturbed Doubtful Downcast Downhearted Dread Dull Edgy Embarrassed Embittered Enraged Envious Exasperated Exhausted Exposed Fatigued Fearful Fidgety Forlorn Frightened Frustrated Furious Gloomy Grief Guilty Hate Heavy Helpless Hesitant Horrified | Horrible Hostile Hot Humdrum Hurt Impatient Incensed Indifferent Indignant Infuriated Inquisitive Insecure Intense Irate Irked Irritated Jealous Jittery Lazy Lethargic Listless Lonely Mad Mean Melancholy Miserable Mopey Morose Nervous Overwhelmed Pain Panicky Passive Perplexed Pessimistic Puzzled Rancorous Regretful Reluctant Remorseful Repelled | Resentful Restless Revolted Sad Scared Sensitive Shaky Shocked Skeptical Sleepy Sorrowful Sour Spent Spiritless Startled Surprised Suspicious Tense Terrified Tired Troubled Uncertain Uncomfortable Uneasy Unglued Unhappy Unnerved Unsteady Upset Uptight Vengeful Vexed Vulnerable Weary Withdrawn Woeful Worn out Worried |
In part, (c) 2005 by Center for Nonviolent Communication
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