--- title: "Feelings Versus Actions" description: "Understand that feelings and actions are separate — you can feel something strongly without having to act on it straight away" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/feelings-versus-actions-mt_TU3BcLOgiV source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/feelings-versus-actions-mt_TU3BcLOgiV.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Feelings Versus Actions Understand that feelings and actions are separate — you can feel something strongly without having to act on it straight away Subject: Personal & Social Development · Area: Self-Awareness · Ages 6 to 8 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/feelings-versus-actions-mt_TU3BcLOgiV ## Ready when they can - emotion regulation development research - Effects of Age and Gender in Emotion Regulation (PMC 2020) - expressive control to emotion regulation (PMC) ## Lesson: Feelings and actions are not the same A feeling is something that happens inside you, like a wave of anger, fear, or jealousy. An action is what you actually do, like yelling, hiding, or grabbing something. Feelings and actions are two different things, even when they feel joined together. *(drawing: Feel it, then pause, then choose what to do. The pause is yours.)* **Example.** Nina feels so angry when her sister changes the TV channel. Her hands want to grab the remote back. Instead, she takes a breath and asks her sister to take turns. Nina still felt angry. She just picked a different action. **Tip.** When a big feeling hits, try counting to five before you do anything. That gap is enough time to choose a kind action instead of a fast one. **Recap.** You can feel something strongly and still choose what you do next. Feeling it and doing it are not the same. ## Practice 8 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Naming Your Feelings](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/naming-your-feelings-mt_69hFD2NgGe) ## Opens up - [Patterns in Your Own Reactions](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/patterns-in-your-own-reactions-mt_H8dEMH_wik) - [Your Impact on Others](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/your-impact-on-others-mt_rpug2tkYhb)