Introduction
Emotions: The Raw Experience
Emotions are automatic responses that arise when we encounter meaningful situations. They are neither good nor bad - they simply are. These raw emotional experiences happen to all of us, whether we want them or not.
Key Characteristics:
Automatic and involuntary
Can be brief or last for hours
Universal human experience
Carry evolutionary wisdom
Example: You feel a surge of anger when someone cuts you off in traffic. This anger arises instinctively as a response to perceived unfairness or threat. It’s completely automatic; this is your raw emotional experience in action.