How Emotions Feel in Your Body
Understand the connection between emotions and the body — recognising physical signals like butterflies in the stomach (nervous), clenched fists (angry), racing heart (scared or excited), and tight shoulders (stressed)
What a learner can do afterwards
- Name at least three body sensations and match them to the emotions they signal
- Notice a physical feeling in their own body and identify the emotion behind it
- Explain why the body reacts physically when we have strong emotions
The lesson
Feelings do not just happen in your head. They happen in your body too. When you feel something strong, your body sends you signals so you can notice it.
Butterflies in your tummy can mean you feel nervous. Clenched, tight fists can mean you feel angry. A racing heart can mean you feel scared or excited. Tight, raised shoulders can mean you feel stressed.
Before her swim race, Ana notices butterflies in her tummy and her heart beating fast. She stops and thinks: my body is telling me I feel nervous and excited about the race.
When you notice a feeling in your body, pause and ask yourself: what emotion is this telling me about? Naming it helps you understand what you are going through.
Your body sends you clues, like butterflies or tight shoulders, to help you notice and name your feelings.
Watch it
Where it sits
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.