Words for strengths and emotions

Last Tuesday I realised something: we're word-poor when it comes to describing ourselves.

You know that feeling when you're trying to explain exactly how you feel and end up saying, "I'm just... knackered"? But it's not knackered. It's something else. Something you don't have a name for.

Limited vocabulary = limited understanding.

Why not find a better word?

So I started collecting words. Just jotting them down in the Notes app whilst waiting for coffee. Words for strengths. Words for emotions.

Not from any expertise. Just because I got tired of describing every slightly-positive feeling as "quite good" and every skill as "I'm fairly decent at it."

Here's the thing about naming stuff: it makes the invisible visible. When you can say "I'm feeling melancholy" instead of the catch-all "sad," you've already begun the process of understanding it. And perhaps dealing with it.

Are we allowed to talk about boredom?

Is boredom an emotion? I wrestled with this.

After much thought, I included it. Boredom lives in that strange space between emotions—it's the absence of engagement yet the presence of restlessness. It deserves recognition, definitely in our community. (Can someone do a PHD topic on boredom, please?

Okay fine, let me give this a go

I almost didn't share any of this.

Who am I to categorise these words without doing proper research? I haven't read the latest psychology journals. Haven't done literature reviews. Don't have any credentials to wave about.

But then I thought: if I'm struggling with limited vocabulary, others probably are too. And waiting for perfect understanding means never sharing anything.

So here it is. Imperfect. Unfinished. Probably missing important nuances. But perhaps useful anyway.

Why I think it matters?

When we expand our vocabulary, we expand our thinking. The person with 20 words for different types of confidence has an advantage over the person who simply says "I feel alright."

Language shapes reality. Better words create better understanding.

I hope these lists help you name what you're feeling and recognise strengths you didn't know you had. Use what works. Ignore what doesn't. Add your own.

And hey—if you have words to add, send them my way. This is just the beginning of the conversation.

Words - strengths

Accountability, Adaptability, Adventurousness, Agility, Ambition, Analytical thinking, Assertiveness, Authenticity, Balance, Bravery, Business acumen, Charisma, Clarity, Commitment, Communication, Compassion, Competence, Confidence, Consideration, Consistency, Cooperation, Coordination, Courage, Creativity, Critical thinking, Curiosity, Decisiveness, Dedication, Determination, Diligence, Discipline, Discernment, Efficiency, Eloquence, Empathy, Endurance, Energy, Enthusiasm, Entrepreneurship, Excellence, Expertise, Fairness, Faith, Flexibility, Focus, Forgiveness, Fortitude, Generosity, Gratitude, Grit, Groundedness, Helpfulness, Honesty, Hope, Humility, Humor, Independence, Industriousness, Influence, Ingenuity, Initiative, Innovation, Insight, Integrity, Intelligence, Interpersonal skills, Judgment, Justice, Kindness, Knowledge, Leadership, Logic, Loyalty, Management, Mindfulness, Moderation, Modesty, Motivation, Negotiation, Networking, Observation, Open-mindedness, Optimism, Orderliness, Organization, Originality, Patience, Perseverance, Persistence, Perspective, Planning, Power, Precision, Presence, Problem-solving, Productivity, Professionalism, Prudence, Punctuality, Purpose, Rationality, Reasoning, Recovery, Reflection, Reliability, Resilience, Resourcefulness, Respect, Responsibility, Results-orientation, Self-awareness, Self-care, Self-compassion, Self-confidence, Self-control, Self-discipline, Self-efficacy, Self-esteem, Self-love, Self-regulation, Self-reliance, Self-sufficiency, Social awareness, Social intelligence, Speed, Spirituality, Stamina, Steadfastness, Strategic thinking, Strength, Stress management, Supportiveness, Systems thinking, Tact, Teaching, Teamwork, Tenacity, Thoughtfulness, Time management, Tolerance, Trustworthiness, Understanding, Versatility, Vigor, Vision, Wisdom, Zeal

Words - Emotions

Acceptance, Admiration, Adoration, Affection, Aggravation, Agitation, Alarm, Alienation, Amazement, Ambivalence, Amusement, Anger, Anguish, Annoyance, Anxiety, Apprehension, Appreciation, Astonishment, Aversion, Awe, Awkwardness, Belonging, Betrayal, Bewilderment, Bitterness, Bliss, Boredom, Camaraderie, Cheerfulness, Compassion, Competition, Confidence, Confusion, Connectedness, Consternation, Contempt, Contentment, Delight, Dejection, Depression, Desire, Despondency, Disappointment, Disconsolation, Disconnection, Discontent, Discouragement, Disgust, Dislike, Dismay, Displeasure, Distaste, Distress, Dolor, Dread, Ecstasy, Elation, Embarrassment, Empathy, Enjoyment, Enthusiasm, Envy, Euphoria, Exasperation, Excitement, Exclusion, Exhilaration, Fear, Forgiveness, Fright, Frustration, Fury, Gaiety, Gladness, Glee, Gloom, Gratification, Gratitude, Grief, Guilt, Happiness, Heartache, Heartbreak, Heaviness, Hope, Horror, Hostility, Humiliation, Inclusion, Indignation, Interest, Intimacy, Irritation, Jealousy, Joy, Jubilation, Loathing, Loneliness, Love, Melancholy, Misery, Mournfulness, Nausea, Nervousness, Nostalgia, Outrage, Panic, Passion, Perplexity, Pleasure, Pride, Rage, Regret, Rejection, Relief, Remorse, Repugnance, Repulsion, Resentment, Respect, Revulsion, Sadness, Satisfaction, Schadenfreude, Scorn, Shame, Shock, Solidarity, Sorrow, Spite, Superiority, Surprise, Sympathy, Terror, Thrill, Trepidation, Triumph, Trust, Unease, Unhappiness, Unworthiness, Vengefulness, Wonder, Woe, Worry, Wrath, Yearning, Zest

Disclaimer: I used ai to correct and add structure and more words to the lists above, thank you