Reviews
Choosing Emotions by D. Earl Johnston was one of those books that I picked with high expectations. Usually, with my experience, that doesn’t go well, but, fortunately, that didn’t happen in this case.
This book is an odyssey to human emotions and how we can all evolve as a person if we try to understand the definitions, depth, and meaning of all the emotions surrounding us every day.
I loved that with a simple need to help and research about depression, the author immersed himself in a fantastic world of 272 different emotions, all relevant in their own way, and managed to understand them with caution and a very critical way of research. The truth is that our emotions are all described in general terms or spoken about as simple scientific definitions, when they are in fact much more complex.
With this book, I understood not only what is behind every single emotion but also how some people perceive them in different ways, which is very useful in order to contradict some of these states when they are overpowering our peace of mind. I also believe some of these clarifications are useful to help others and stop enabling certain behaviors, such as on the topic of codependence, where instead of helping our loved ones bring out the best in them, we support their bad habits and thoughts, which is something that perhaps most of us don’t realize we are doing and would never associate it with codependence as well.
I think it is pretty obvious at this point that I loved this book and cannot point out a single downside. The book is long and complex at times, but the theme does justify a deeper explanation and the insertion of several quotes in order for the reader to truly comprehend some of the emotions described and how different people feel and react to them, whether they look at it on a positive note or with fear and anguish.
The book is free of errors, the editing is perfect, and I gladly rate it 5 out of 5 stars. As the author says, we can all guarantee a happier life if we find space to create harmony between our heads and our hearts, and this is precisely what I felt like I could take from this reading experience. We usually describe our head as our enemy, especially when we suffer from anxiety, traumas, or some form of depression; however, if we manage to connect our head to our heart and make peace with what we are feeling, I have no doubt we can create a better life and stop being overstimulated or overwhelmed with some of our emotions, which is why anyone who would love to emerge in this journey and understand their emotions will love this book.
Media Room
Poetry is one of the many emotional states I explore in my book. CHOOSING EMOTIONS explores 272 emotional states. That’s over 30% more than the APA Dictionary of Psychology *and* the Oxford Dictionary of Psychology! That gap in emotional communication is where most of us are living. Without the right words and phrases, it’s hard to achieve emotional literacy and self knowledge. I hope CHOOSING EMOTIONS will continue to help readers bridge that gap! Grab your copy to explore the full spectrum of feeling 🫀 . . . . . . #emotional #psychology #innervoice #poetry #selfawareness
Are you ready for "sad summer"? According to Noah Kahan and his new album, we are about to experience a summer of sad songs. But there are more emotions to consider with this album than just sadness. Throughout the more somber parts of the album, there are moments of catharsis, compassion, and love. What are you listening to this summer + how is it making you feel? . . . . . . #noahkahan #thegreatdivide #songofthesummer #emotionalhealing #emotions
You’d be surprised to learn how many emotions we have! It’s so easy to confuse one emotion with another when you don’t have the right words. My book, CHOOSING EMOTIONS, unites 272 emotions AND 8,000+ insights from peak performers, artists, scientists, and philosophers who have mastered the full spectrum of emotional states. Grab your copy today! . . . . . . #emotionaltoolkit #emotions #psychology #emotionalintelligence #emotionalwork
Karma is often spoken about as an abstract idea. Yet many people recognize it through moments that unfold over time. These experiences reflect a simple principle: actions carry forward. What is given, in some form, returns. 🙌 Karma can be understood as a quiet law of cause and effect. A movement toward equilibrium in human behavior, where intention and action shape future outcomes. As Sakyong Mipham shared, “Like gravity, karma is so basic we often don’t even notice it.” This is why the familiar phrase continues to resonate: what goes around often comes around. Have you ever experienced a moment that felt like karma? 🤔 #ChoosingEmotions #EmotionalIntelligence #Karma #SelfAwareness
What creates that immediate sense of presence some people carry? ✨ It is often mistaken for confidence, but it is something more relational. Charisma appears in attention. In how someone listens. In how fully they engage with the person in front of them. As Robert Breault wrote, “Charisma is a fancy name given to the knack of giving people your full attention.” That feeling of being seen creates connection. And we often interpret that connection as charisma. This is how emotional states shape perception. Not just how we feel, but how we experience others. 🧠 Choosing Emotions is a book that explores how emotions influence connection, communication, and presence. Follow for more insights on how emotions shape the way we connect. 📘 Available on Amazon. #ChoosingEmotions #EmotionalIntelligence #Charisma #SelfAwareness
Grateful for this perspective and review. Understanding emotions is not only about awareness. It is also about balance. The ability to think clearly while staying connected to what you feel is where meaningful change begins. That balance allows emotion to inform decisions, rather than overwhelm them. 🙌 Small differences. Big impact. 📘 Choosing Emotions is available on Amazon. #ChoosingEmotions #EmotionalIntelligence #EmotionalClarity #SelfAwareness
We often talk about love as if it’s a single feeling. But in real life, it rarely shows up that simply. Love can carry vulnerability when there’s something to lose. It can feel like loyalty when trust is steady. It can shift into insecurity or even suspicion when uncertainty enters the picture. Sometimes, several of these are present at once. As Goethe wrote, “Love does not dominate, it cultivates.” Which means it evolves. It holds space for multiple emotional states, not just one fixed feeling. That is where relationships begin to feel confusing. Not because the emotion is wrong, but because it is not clearly defined. When you can name what you are actually experiencing, communication becomes more direct. Understanding deepens. Which one shows up most for you? A) Vulnerability B) Loyalty C) Insecurity D) Suspicion #ChoosingEmotions #EmotionalIntelligence #RelationshipAwareness #EmotionalClarity
Have you ever noticed how one calm person can settle an entire room? 🧠 It is rarely because they are speaking the most. Often it is because their emotional state is steady and grounded. Human beings constantly read emotional signals from the people around them. Tone, posture, pace, and energy all communicate something beneath the words. Without realizing it, our nervous systems begin to mirror what we observe. This is why calm can be contagious. When one person regulates their emotions well, others often begin to settle as well. Stability spreads through the room quietly but powerfully. 🙌 Moments like this reveal how deeply emotional states influence the people around us. Choosing Emotions is a book that explores emotions and emotional conditions through insights from some of history’s greatest thinkers, helping readers understand how states like calm shape relationships, leadership, and everyday interactions. 📘 Grab your copy on Amazon! #ChoosingEmotions #EmotionalIntelligence #SelfAwareness #EmotionalRegulation
Writing does something subtle but powerful. It requires you to put experience into language. ✏️ When a feeling is translated into words, the brain begins to organize it. What once felt vague or overwhelming starts to take shape. Distinctions appear. Meaning becomes clearer. This is why a single sentence can change how something feels. Not because the situation has changed, but because the emotion has been identified. As Warren Buffett said, “There is nothing like writing to force you to think and get your thoughts straight.” In many cases, clarity does not begin with action. It begins with language. 🙌 Choosing Emotions is a book that serves as a powerful resource for writers, offering 272 clearly defined emotional states to help move beyond vague terms and into precise, believable emotional expression. Because when emotion is specific, it becomes more real on the page and more understood in life. 📘 Available on Amazon. #ChoosingEmotions #EmotionalIntelligence #SelfAwareness #WritingForClarity
Ludwig Wittgenstein, PhD once observed, “All I know is what I have words for.” 🧠 When the language is limited, understanding is limited. And when understanding is limited, so is the ability to respond effectively. “Stuck” is not a single state. It can be fear when something feels uncertain, overwhelm when there are too many inputs and no clear starting point, or disappointment after expectations were not met. Movement begins when the emotion is identified accurately. Clarity changes the path forward. Choosing Emotions is a book designed to help you identify the emotional root behind feeling stuck. By mapping distinct emotional states, it gives you the clarity to understand what is actually driving resistance. 📘 Available on Amazon. #ChoosingEmotions #EmotionalIntelligence #EmotionalClarity #SelfUnderstanding
Wonder is the moment the mind pauses just before curiosity begins. ✨ It is the experience of encountering something not yet understood and choosing not to rush past it. In that brief pause, perception shifts. Assumptions soften. New possibilities begin to form. As Socrates observed, “All thinking begins with wondering.” Wonder is not about answers. It is about creating the conditions where understanding can emerge. Choosing Emotions is a book that explores emotional states like wonder, helping readers recognize and articulate these early moments of curiosity, where insight often begins. When was the last time something made you stop and genuinely wonder? 📖 Available on Amazon. #ChoosingEmotions #EmotionalIntelligence #Curiosity #SelfAwareness
A small sentence can sometimes carry more strength than we realize. Encouragement is one of the simplest emotional signals we can offer another person. It reminds someone that effort matters, that progress is possible, and that they are not moving forward alone. The writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe captured this well when he said, “Correction does much, but encouragement does more.” Encouragement does not always celebrate a finished result. More often, it strengthens the person while they are still in the middle of the climb. 🙌 Add one sentence of encouragement below. Someone scrolling today might need it. ❤️ #ChoosingEmotions #EmotionalIntelligence #Encouragement #SelfAwareness
