What feelings contribute to thinking

Feelings influence what matters to us, what attracts attention, and which possibilities seem urgent. Concern can lead us to check a problem. Enjoyment can keep us interested in an activity. Anger can signal that we believe an important boundary has been crossed.

An emotion is a response involving feelings, interpretations, bodily changes, and tendencies to act. The exact combination varies with the emotion and situation.

Emotions are part of thinking and decision making. Understanding their role does not require choosing between following every feeling and suppressing all feelings. It requires separating what the response tells you from what still needs to be established about the situation.