The Center For Nonviolent Communication created one of my favorite tools, the feelings inventory, which I used a great deal when working with the incarcerated.

I found that the men I had the opportunity to work with lacked vocabulary when it came to describing emotions. Even though their emotional experience was highly nuanced, they had only a very limited way of talking about it.

Talking about and creating change is difficult with a limited emotional vocabulary because our experience can only be described in stark and blunt terms.

In working with these inmates I found that when I spent time with a comprehensive list of emotions it deepened my understanding of my own experience, which helped me to transform my emotional state.

This week I share a simple tool with you to help transform your emotional state. If you have ever thought “I don’t know what to tap on” or “I don’t know where to start” then this is the tool for you.