Inside our heads, unseen, often uncontrollable, are feelings and emotions. They can make us happy and glad, or sad and angry. Feelings are not something that we take or leave, they just happen, they occur automatically. 

Psychologists have called feelings and emotions the springboard to action. They can affect body chemistry, strength, health and well being. They are often more than a little difficult to control. 

Violent acts like the shootings at the Littleton school in Colorado in which fifteen people died may have been triggered in part by a feeling of rejection, of anger from taunting by some of the students.

In other cases, a feeling of being wronged on the job, or laid off may trigger action.  It is believed that early childhood and later experiences in growing up may be important factors in how a person reacts to later snubs and hurts.

While feelings may not always be controllable, one’s actions should be. Common sense and rationality should keep us from going of the deep end and putting others and ourselves in danger.

As an example of how feelings just happen, if a child is lost or injured, parents cannot help but be worried and distressed. If we are on a plane and one engine quits, fear and even terror can surge through our minds.

But when that pretty girt you have been noticing, agrees to go to the school prom with you, the world is suddenly all pink and lovely. As puberty arrives teens can be put on a roller coaster of she likes me, she doesn't like me, or he likes me, or maybe he won't oven notice me.

Happy and pleasant feelings promote good health. These are often associated with praise, love or   accomplishments.

But failure, rejection and criticism or put downs are all negative and can affect one's good health.

Sometimes things happen that make us feel like the end of the world is at hand, or that life is just not worth living any more. That is a time to start using your head, your, reason and intelligence. The world will go on with you or without you. While a terrible thing may have happened, time heals and there are people who need you, your love and skills.

Few lives have completely smooth sailing. When storms come, it is time to hang on to the ship's rail and proceed with extra care and caution. It is not the time to let yourself be swept overboard to perish In the raging sea. The storm will subside and the sun will shine again. The world is full of wonderful people and things. So hang in there, find and enjoy then.

We need to keep in mind that other people have feelings, too. We should get the habit of thinking about how what we say or do may affect other people's feelings. We all like to succeed, to win, to be praised. But there are times when we may be on the losing side, in sports, losing is just part of the game.

All though life, the relations between the sexes can be especially important. It is easy to be attracted to another, to develop strong feelings about  him or her.

LOVE is something we all crave. The need starts the day we are born. It is then that love is all important, for a new baby is totally helpless. It needs 24 hour a day care and attention if it is to survive. Much study has determined that the first three years of life are very important ones. It is during these early years that a feeling of security and of beingwanted should be acquired.

It is also a time to acquire assurance of having some control over what happens to him or her. For instance, some one conies when he or she cries. This can build an emotional foundation to help a person for the rest of his or her life.

This is the time that the Three A's of Successful Childhood are really needed. These are ACCEPTANCE, AFFECTION, AND ACHIEVEMENT (See A Thumbnail Guide for more detail).

Summary: Feelings and emotions are automatic, and not always easy to control They are a very Important part of our lives. Happy feelings promote good health. Negative feelings tend to be unhealthy. We need to think before we speak What feelings will what we say generate In our listeners? Offer
praise and encouragement when you can.