The Emotions Library project is a collection of stories about the emotion(s) we experience. Stories bring meaning and clarity, helping us understand our emotions better. We do this so everyone can access knowledge, gain emotional literacy, and develop self-awareness. Today, we’re exploring a crucial emotional experience that influences how we navigate discomfort and grow: the feeling of "awfulness."
Experiencing "awful" emotions signals discomfort or imbalance, prompting us to reflect on what’s causing distress. Rather than avoiding or withdrawing, which only offers temporary relief, this feeling encourages understanding and validating our emotions. It guides us to identify the changes needed, whether setting boundaries, seeking support, or shifting our perspective. Ultimately, the "awful" feeling becomes a prompt for growth, helping us navigate discomfort and restore balance in our lives.
Story: Feeling overwhelmed by something unpleasant or deeply disturbing.
Impulse: Avoid, withdraw, or react with disgust or distress.
Etymology: From Old English afull, meaning "worthy of awe or fear," later evolving to "extremely bad or unpleasant."
Purpose: Signals a need to address or remove sources of discomfort.
Emotional Regulation and Journaling
In partnership with Calm3D, we provide a safe space for self-regulation, where you can feel peace, safety, and security while reflecting on your emotional experience and experiencing your story of awfulness.
Visit www.playcalm3d.com as you reflect and experience peace as you contemplate your emotions.
Reflective Questions
What about the situation feels overwhelming or disturbing?
How can you distance yourself from what feels "awful"?
What steps can you take to shift your perspective or reaction?
Let’s explore what it means to experience the feeling of "awful," why it matters, and how you can navigate it to promote emotional growth and resilience.
Feeling Overwhelmed by Something Unpleasant or Deeply Disturbing
The morning had started like any other, with the steady rhythm of Kobe’s alarm clock cutting through the stillness of his room. He blinked awake, his thoughts already tangled in the remnants of a restless night. There was something wrong. Something deep, heavy, and… awful.
Kobe dragged himself out of bed, his limbs feeling like they were made of stone, each movement slow and deliberate. The dull ache inside him seemed to grow with every step. He had been feeling this way for days, as though an invisible weight was pressing against his chest. Something was off, but he couldn’t pinpoint it. He just felt... awful.
The word echoed in his mind, reflecting how he was experiencing the world. The unease he felt wasn’t just tiredness—it was the discomfort that made everything feel distant, out of reach. It wasn’t just his body that felt heavy; it was his mind, emotions, and sense of self.
Impulse: Avoid, Withdraw, or React with Disgust or Distress
When something feels "awful," the body's natural response is a fight-or-flight reaction. For Kobe, that meant withdrawing. He avoided engaging with others, shutting himself off from the world around him as if by disappearing, he could make the feeling go away. But it didn’t. It never did. The more he pulled away, the heavier the feeling became, wrapping itself around his chest and making it harder to breathe.
It was a classic response. Avoidance, withdrawal, even the urge to distance himself from his own emotions—it was how his mind and body tried to protect him from discomfort. The feeling was too much, too overwhelming, so his instinct was to retreat. But deep down, Kobe knew that avoiding the source of his discomfort only provided temporary relief. It didn’t resolve the underlying tension. It didn’t help him understand what was causing him to feel so off-balance.
At work, the sensation only intensified. He sat at his desk, half-heartedly answering emails and participating in meetings, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t focus. Everything felt like it was happening to someone else—someone who wasn’t him. He wasn’t sure whether the distress came from the stress of his job, or if it was something deeper, something inside him that he couldn’t quite access. But every interaction—every word spoken—felt distant and hollow.
The Origins of "Awful"
The word “awful” traces its roots to the Old English afull, meaning "worthy of awe or fear." Over time, its meaning evolved to describe something “extremely bad or unpleasant.” This shift in definition reflects how we now use the word to describe not just something physically dreadful, but something that deeply affects us emotionally or psychologically.
For Kobe, the feeling of awfulness wasn’t just about the world outside him—it was about the overwhelming sense that something in his mind and spirit wasn’t quite right. It was the feeling of being small in the face of something big, something that he couldn’t handle. And it terrified him. The more he retreated, the worse the feelings became, until everything seemed awful—the world, the people around him, even himself.
Purpose: Signals a Need to Address or Remove Sources of Discomfort
The purpose of feeling awful is to signal that something is out of balance, a reminder that we are being exposed to something that goes beyond what we can comfortably handle. Kobe’s sense of discomfort was not just a random thought or an overreaction; it was his mind and body telling him that something was wrong and needed to be addressed.
As he sat on the couch that evening, the tears began to come—quietly at first, then more steadily, as the weight of the day finally caught up with him. He wasn’t just crying out of sadness or frustration; he was crying because he finally realized that the feeling he had been avoiding, that awful feeling, was trying to tell him something.
It was asking him to pause, reflect, and examine what was going on inside him. What needs to change? What could he do to begin to address the discomfort he had been so desperately trying to avoid?
Emotional Literacy: Understanding the Signals Behind “Awful” Emotions
Emotional literacy is the ability to identify, understand, and manage emotions in healthy ways. Kobe was beginning to understand that the feeling of “awfulness” wasn’t a random occurrence—it was a signal, a way his body and mind were communicating something deeper. Perhaps it was fear of failure, unresolved anxiety, or the cumulative effect of the stress in his life. The more he reflected, the clearer it became that his feelings were not just reactions to one-off events, but a complex mixture of emotions he hadn’t fully processed.
Once he identified the feeling as “overwhelmed,” he began to see the source of his distress more clearly. It wasn’t just the busy workday or the distance he felt from his friends and family—it was everything piling up in a way he hadn’t been able to face.
Emotional literacy meant validating his own emotions and acknowledging that it was okay to feel overwhelmed or lost without judgment. Only then could he begin to move through it rather than letting it consume him.
Reflective Questions
What about the situation feels overwhelming or disturbing?
How can you distance yourself from what feels “awful”?
What steps can you take to shift your perspective or reaction?
Final Thoughts
The feeling of “awful” is universal, yet deeply personal. For Kobe, the sense of being overwhelmed and distant wasn’t something to be ashamed of, but something to understand. By giving himself the space to reflect on his feelings and the wisdom of emotional literacy, he began to see that his discomfort was a signal—a prompt for change, growth, and self-care.
The next time Kobe felt overwhelmed, he knew that avoiding the feeling wouldn’t resolve it. Instead, he would pause, listen, and explore what the “awful” feeling was trying to tell him. Only then could he begin to navigate it, not as a passive victim of his emotions, but as an active participant in his emotional journey.
If Kobe’s experience with the feeling of "awful" resonates with you, consider enhancing your emotional literacy to better understand and navigate moments of discomfort or overwhelm. Tools like Emoli Cards can help you identify and articulate your emotions, empowering you to face challenging situations with clarity and resilience.
For personalized support, book an Emotions-Based Coaching session. Together, we’ll explore how acknowledging and processing feelings of "awfulness" can transform your emotional landscape, turning discomfort into opportunities for growth, self-care, and emotional strength, while prioritizing your well-being.
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