When I was 10 (or something) I knew I was a pretty emotional kid. "Sensitive" my mom called me. I found a book called "Emotions: Can you trust them?" by James Dobson. I was so intrigued! Maybe some emotional freedom for me! Direction as to what I could do with my emotions! But nah. All I learned was: NOPE YOU CAN'T TRUST YOUR EMOTIONS. Good info. But only a start. In the last year I've been listening to Brooke Castillo's podcast - The Lifecoach School. Funny how when things get broken down into their parts, they become easier to understand. This is what Brooke has done (she calls it "the thought model"), and this is what I have learned. Feelings come from thoughts. Thoughts come up as a reaction to our circumstances. Pretty simple. For example, I'm walking and I see a snake. Here's the thought model. Circumstance: I'm walking and I see a snake Thought: It's going to bite me Feeling: fear, anxiety Action: Run fast ...