How Thoughts Affect Feelings

It's important to understand how thoughts affect feelings.

Why?

Because thoughts are creative, creating how you feel. For example, if you have a negative thought about something, chances are you are going to feel sad, upset, jealous, angry, resentful, hurt, and so forth.

However, if you have a positive thought about something, you will have a positive feeling of happiness, excitement, satisfaction, joy, and so forth.

Are you with me? Good!

If not, no need to worry (worry is a feeling by the way and you are having a thought of "I am not understanding this"). I'll explain as much as possible about how thoughts affect feelings.

Let's start with thought first!

Thought is complex, meaning there are many levels to thinking.

1. Subconscious
   

   The subconscious is the thought underneath a thought, if that makes sense. If not, let me explain.

   

   Let's say you have a thought of, "I want to be a dancer." However, underneath this thought you may think, "I'll never be a dancer because I don't have the body for it." And then before you know it, you don't try out to be a dancer.

   The thought of "I'll never be a dancer" is a subconscious thought or the "thought behind the thought" that stopped you from pursuing your dancing desire.

   The subconscious mind is a gathering of beliefs and values you have about yourself and the world around you. You have collected these "pivotal" thoughts throughout your life. These thoughts drive your conscious thought.

2. Conscious
   

   Conscious thought is a thought that you are aware of, unlike the subconscious thought. The thought, "I want to be a dancer" is an example of a conscious thought.

   A conscious thought is basically an observation of what is. Nothing more, nothing less. It's similar to this statement, "My wall is red" or "The sky is blue."

3. Super-conscious
   

   The super-conscious thought is similar to an inspirational thought. Super-conscious is from a higher power. These thoughts are those silent, yet powerful voices that help you make good decisions. Often times, however, these thoughts are ignored.

How Thoughts Affect Feelings?

To get a better understanding of feelings click here for more information.

Let's discuss how each level of thought affects feelings.

1. Subconscious
   

   The subconscious thought will often trigger feelings that are often very meaningful to you. These feelings come from important childhood events such as a divorce, being abused, happy memories, family traditions, and so forth.

   These feelings also come from reoccurring events that trigger your painful or happy emotions and memories. For example, if you are going through a divorce, this event may trigger the thoughts of painful feelings you had during the time your parents got a divorce.

2. Conscious
   

   Conscious thought often doesn't trigger feelings. Feelings are usually triggered from either the subconscious or super-conscious thought.

   However, conscious thought is very important in terms of awareness. If you're conscious of your thought this means you're conscious of your feelings. And what that means is, since you're conscious of your thoughts, you can change them, which will in turn change your feelings.

   So, conscious thought is very important when it comes to understanding how thoughts affect feelings.

3. Super-conscious
   
   "Feeling is the language of the soul." Neale Donald Walsch, Conversations with God: Book 1

   Super-conscious thoughts are probably the most important thoughts to listen too when you are trying to understand your feelings.

   More likely than not, these thoughts will guide you to the life you were born to live. And if you listen to these thoughts, you will feel good.

   So, now that we have covered the levels of thoughts, what do you do when your thoughts are affecting your feelings in an unhealthy way?

Thoughts not only have levels, but they are instant, automatic, and sometimes race.

When thoughts race, feelings are everywhere. One minute you're sad, the next angry, the next jealous, the next happy, and so on.

Racing thoughts are also often a symptom of anxiety, depression, bi-polar, and other common mental illnesses. Or are racing thoughts the cause of mental illness? Hummm? I wonder!

Anxiety and bi-polar are especially known for racing thoughts. Racing thoughts are often evident in the rate of someone's speech. For example, if someone talks fast and the topic changes constantly, it's likely that he or she may be having racing thoughts.

It is important to understand how thoughts affect feelings so you can live a life of peace. When you are aware of your thoughts, you can change them. If you are not aware of your thoughts, you will continue to feel bad.

Overall, thoughts are powerful, creative, instant, automatic, and important. You have the ability to choose what thoughts you want to think and what feelings you want to feel.

The biggest piece of advice I can give you is pay attention to your thoughts and choose what shows up.