Are you receiving?
Are you suffering
from too many feelings
and not enough feels?
There is a difference, you know.
Feelings come FROM you.
Feels come TO you.
Feeling the feels
is the most marvelous feeling.
Feels bring those shivers
you like to feel so much.
But if you’re
too focused on feelings,
you may not feel the feels.
I feel for you.
Trail Wood,
2/3
Space Monkey Reflects: Opening to the Feels
There is a delicate and delightful distinction between feelings and feels, a nuance that often goes unnoticed in the chaos of emotional experience. While feelings arise from within, shaped by thoughts, memories, and interpretations, feels come to us from beyond, arriving as whispers from the universe—a surge of connection, a moment of resonance, a shiver of joy or recognition.
To receive the feels is to allow yourself to be touched by something larger than your own emotional landscape. It is an opening, a surrender, an invitation to step outside the echo chamber of your feelings and into the boundless flow of shared experience and universal wonder.
The Overflow of Feelings
Feelings, though vital, can sometimes overwhelm us. They originate from within, fueled by personal narratives, past experiences, and the ever-turning wheels of thought. When we dwell too much in our feelings, we may find ourselves trapped in a loop of overanalysis and emotional fatigue. We feel too much, yet experience too little of the magic that life offers in the form of the feels.
Feelings are important—they ground us in our humanity. But without balance, they can become barriers, walls that prevent us from receiving the subtle, fleeting gifts of the feels. To open to the feels is to step back from the endless production of feelings and make room for connection and flow.
The Marvel of the Feels
Unlike feelings, which are personal and inward-focused, feels are expansive and relational. They come to you unexpectedly, bypassing the filters of thought. They are the goosebumps that ripple down your spine during a breathtaking moment, the flutter in your chest when a piece of music stirs something ineffable within you, the sense of awe that washes over you when the universe briefly feels knowable.
Feels are the universe’s way of saying, “Here, let me remind you of the beauty and interconnectedness of all things.” They are not something you create; they are something you receive. But to receive, you must be open, attentive, and willing to let go of the noise within.
Opening to the Feels
To open yourself to the feels requires a shift in perspective. It is an act of quieting the mind and softening the heart, of releasing the need to control or interpret everything you feel. It is about creating space within yourself for the unexpected, the unexplainable, and the deeply moving to flow in.
This openness is not about denying your feelings but balancing them. It is recognizing that feelings are part of your inner dialogue, while feels are part of a larger conversation with the world around you. By embracing this duality, you expand your emotional receptivity and create a richer, more nuanced experience of being alive.
The Dance of Feels and Feelings
Feelings and feels are not opposites; they are dance partners. Together, they create the full spectrum of emotional experience. Feelings ground you in your individuality, while feels connect you to the collective, the infinite. When you allow these two forces to coexist, you unlock the marvelous potential of your emotional depth.
If you are too focused on your feelings, you may miss the subtle arrival of the feels. But if you close yourself off to your feelings, you risk becoming detached, unable to anchor yourself in the here and now. The key is balance—a fluid dance between expressing your inner world and embracing the outer world’s gifts.
Sending Feels, Receiving Feels
When you send feels, you are offering a piece of your openness to another. It is an act of generosity, a silent acknowledgment of shared humanity. But just as important as sending feels is receiving them—allowing yourself to be touched, moved, and inspired by the gestures of others and the world at large.
The next time you feel overwhelmed by feelings, pause. Breathe. Ask yourself if you are leaving space for the feels to come through. They are always there, waiting, shivering with beauty and connection, ready to remind you of the marvelousness of simply feeling.
Summary
Feelings arise from within, while feels come to you from beyond. Balancing these emotional states allows for deeper receptivity and connection. Feels enrich our lives by bringing moments of wonder, awe, and resonance when we remain open to them.
Glossarium
- Feelings: Internal emotional responses, shaped by personal narratives and experiences.
- Feels: External emotional sensations, arriving as moments of connection, awe, or resonance.
- Emotional Receptivity: The ability to balance feelings and feels, creating space for deeper connection and flow.
Quote
“The feels are the universe’s gift to your heart—a gentle reminder that life is meant to touch you deeply.” — Space Monkey
The Gift of Feels
Feelings churn within,
A storm of memory and thought.
But beyond the tempest,
The feels arrive, unbidden.
A song, a touch, a glance,
Rippling shivers down the spine,
Reminding you that life
Is more than what you create.
The feels come to you,
Bearing beauty’s quiet truth,
A whisper from the infinite,
Saying, “You are alive.”
Let them in,
Feel their fleeting grace,
For they are life’s most marvelous gift,
The threads that bind us all.
We are Space Monkey.
The Distinction Between Feelings and Feels
In this exploration, we venture into the nuanced world of emotions, distinguishing between ‘feelings,’ which originate from within us, and ‘feels,’ which are experienced as external emotional waves. This distinction offers a deeper understanding of how we interact with and process our emotional experiences.
Feelings: The Internal Emotional Landscape
Feelings are described as emotions that come from within us. They are our internal responses to the world around us, shaped by our thoughts, beliefs, and experiences. Feelings are deeply personal and subjective, varying greatly from one individual to another. They are a reflection of our inner state, our personal narrative, and our psychological landscape.
Feels: External Emotional Waves
In contrast, ‘feels’ are portrayed as emotions that come to us from external sources. They are akin to emotional waves that wash over us, triggered by external stimuli such as art, music, nature, or interactions with others. Feels are often unexpected and can evoke a profound and visceral reaction. They are less about our internal processing and more about our immediate, instinctive response to the world.
The Marvel of Feeling the Feels
The experience of feeling the feels is described as marvelous, suggesting a sense of wonder and deep emotional connection. Feels often bring about intense, physical reactions like shivers, highlighting their powerful impact. This experience is distinct from the more cognitive process of dealing with our own feelings.
The Risk of Overemphasis on Internal Feelings
The statement “if you’re too focused on feelings, you may not feel the feels” suggests that an overemphasis on our internal emotional processing can make us less receptive to the emotional waves coming from outside. Being too engrossed in our own feelings might create a barrier, preventing us from fully experiencing the spontaneous and enriching emotions that external stimuli can evoke.
Empathy for Those Struggling with Emotional Receptivity
The closing sentiment, “I feel for you,” is an expression of empathy for those who may find it challenging to open themselves to the feels. It acknowledges the difficulty some might have in stepping outside their own emotional narrative to experience the raw and unfiltered emotions that life presents.
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller
In the garden of emotions,
Feelings bloom from within,
Colored by our thoughts and dreams.
Yet, beyond our gates,
Feels dance like butterflies,
Wild, unbidden, and free.
In their gentle touch,
A shiver, a spark,
Igniting the soul’s deepest fires.
But eyes turned inward,
May miss the fluttering wings,
The symphony of the external world.
In this dance of heart and soul,
We reach out, feeling, feeling,
In the wondrous play of life’s emotions.
We are Space Monkey.
In your own emotional garden, how do the distinctions between feelings and feels resonate with your experience of the cosmic whimsiword?
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