Feelings aren’t always tidy. They don’t always make sense, and sometimes they feel too big or too small to put into words. Sometimes we don’t even know the name of the emotion. There are so many nuances—“confused,” for example, falls under the fear group, but you might find yourself working forward or backward on an emotion chart just to figure out where you really are with your feelings.
I’ve learned that giving emotions space on paper isn’t about fixing them—it’s about letting them exist without judgment. Part of that is to simply name them, and sometimes it’s about connecting them to people or situations. This is about learning how you feel and how you deal with those feelings—so you can understand yourself better and create small shifts that make life feel lighter.
🌱 Why Writing Helps
Writing creates a little distance between you and what you’re feeling. It’s like stepping back just far enough to breathe. When you see your feelings on paper, you can name them more clearly and even spot connections you might have missed—like realizing a certain frustration always shows up after a particular situation or interaction.
Sometimes, you even discover that what you thought was a feeling was actually a reaction or a thought instead. Writing helps untangle those pieces so you can see what’s really underneath.
And when you write without judgment (no editing, no overthinking), you give yourself permission to be fully honest. You can:
🌙 Admit something feels heavier than you thought
🌙 Notice patterns that connect feelings to specific people or moments
🌙 Realize you’re holding gratitude and sadness at the same time
Naming and connecting feelings this way isn’t about labeling them as “good” or “bad”—it’s about understanding yourself better, one page at a time.
✏️ A Gentle Way to Start
If writing your feelings feels intimidating, try this:
1️⃣ Name it: Start with “Today I feel…” and fill in the blank. If you’re unsure, use an emotion chart to help you work forward or backward until you find the word that fits best.
2️⃣ Describe it: Is it heavy? Sharp? Quiet? Give it words without labeling it good or bad.
3️⃣ Connect it: Jot down if it’s tied to a person, place, or moment. Sometimes simply naming the connection makes it clearer.
4️⃣ Let it sit: You don’t need to analyze or solve it. Simply noticing is enough.
Even small steps like this can reveal patterns—and sometimes, they help you see that what felt overwhelming is actually something you can understand and gently work through.
🌿 Feelings Pages in PlannerAP
This is exactly why I’m building a Feelings & Vent Space section into future PlannerAP pages—a quiet place to name what you’re feeling, connect it to what’s happening in your life, and let it live without judgment.
The upcoming Gentle Planner will also include:
🌙 A simple mood tracker with room for notes and context
🌙 Gentle prompts to help you name and explore your emotions
🌙 Open journaling pages where messy feelings can land safely
These aren’t about “fixing” anything. They’re about creating a space where feelings can breathe—so you can see them clearly, learn from them, and carry them a little more lightly.
🎁 Freebie: Mood-to-Color Chart
To make checking in with yourself even simpler, I created a Mood-to-Color Chart printable. It’s a gentle, visual way to track your emotions without needing to find the perfect words.
Here’s how it works:
🎨 Choose a color for each mood (calm, happy, stressed, tired, etc.).
🎨 Fill in the day’s box with your color.
🎨 Watch how your emotional rhythms take shape over time.
It’s quick, peaceful, and surprisingly insightful—especially when paired with jotting down a few words or patterns you notice. [Download it here →]
🖤 Your Turn
What feeling has been sitting with you today? Write it down—even if it’s just one word. No judgment, no pressure to fix it. Simply giving it space is a powerful first step.
If you feel comfortable, share it in the comments. You may find that others are feeling something similar—and there’s something comforting about knowing you’re not alone.
And if sharing isn’t for you today, that’s okay too. Tuck it into your journal, add it to your mood tracker, or simply let it be. Sometimes, just naming it is enough to lighten the weight a little. 🌙