The Hidden Power of Feelings
Your emotions affect you more than you know...
Meet your Microsoft 'Feelings' Monster!

Your emotions affect you more than you know

They guide our daily decisions and provide context to every situation. They influence how we interact with and perceive our peers and, fundamentally, how we see ourselves. They are deeply connected to our memory and give meaning to the moments of our lives.

While we all experience feelings, many of us don’t understand how they affect us, what they mean, and how to evaluate them. After all, emotions are more complex than simply being happy or sad. Researchers believe there are at least 27 distinct emotions (with varying degrees that can be mixed).

And yet – many of us aren’t taught how to successfully navigate the constantly changing emotional landscape surrounding us.

How do you feel today?

What if your emotions changed the color of your skin? You radiate green after acing that pop quiz. When you get overwhelmed, you turn orange. When you’re scared, you turn pink. Would that impact how you understood emotions?

Meet your Microsoft Feelings Monster by hovering over an emotion below:

ambitious

I feel ambitious and determined to succeed

grateful

I feel grateful and filled with appreciation

excited

I feel excited and eager to take on new challenges

focused

I feel focused and ready to learn

curious

I feel curious and interested in learning something

bored

I feel bored and not engaged

calm

I feel calm and free of worry

tired

I feel tired and need rest

confused

I feel confused and unable to figure something out

overwhelmed

I feel overwhelmed by expectations or thoughts

anxious

I feel anxious and uneasy about what might happen

frustrated

I feel frustrated by being unable to change something

lonely

I feel lonely because I don’t feel connected to others

confident

I feel confident and sure of my abilities

happy

I feel happy and content

creative

I feel creative and full of imagination

glad

I feel glad and pleased

motivated

I feel motivated and enthusiastic about doing something

peaceful

I feel peaceful and free of worry

content

I feel content and peaceful

reserved

I feel reserved and slow to reveal emotions or opinions

restless

I feel annoyed and irritated by something

annoyed

I feel annoyed and irritated by something

jealous

I feel jealous and resentful because someone has something I don’t

shocked

I feel shocked and struck by a sudden disturbance

stuck

I feel stuck and unable to finish something

energised

I feel energized and ready to take action

determined

I feel determined and unwavering about my goals

included

I feel included and glad to be part of the group

awed

I feel awed and filled with wonder

valued

I feel valued and appreciated

optimistic

I feel optimistic and believe that things will get better

inspired

I feel inspired and filled with courage

sensitive

I feel sensitive and easily hurt

hurt

I feel hurt because of someone’s words or actions

nervous

I feel nervous, apprehensive or on edge

angry

I feel angry, upset or annoyed

worthless

I feel worthless and unappreciated

stressed

I feel stressed and under pressure

It’s all about emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand and manage one’s feelings while understanding and empathizing with the feelings of others. People with higher emotional intelligence are often better equipped to deal with whatever gets thrown their way, whether in their personal or professional lives.

With emotional intelligence as a significant indicator of success, it might be easy to assume that more people would have the ability to name their emotions. But evidence suggests that only about 36% of people do.

Why is this?

Many educators and psychologists believe timing is an issue – people are far more likely to develop higher emotional intelligence when cultivated earlier. This insight has led to an increased focus on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curricula in many school systems.

“SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.”
– Casel.org

As the demand for more SEL curricula grows, so does the need for tools to help educators and students with its implementation.