Working Your Way Up The Emotional Scale

Is it not amazing how many different emotions we can experience? No one even knows for sure how many different human emotions there are!

Over the years, psychologists and neuroscientists have proposed various models for categorizing and understanding human emotions. The highest total number of distinct emotions identified by a single model is found in the research of Alan S. Cowen and Dacher Keltner, who identified 27 distinct emotions. Their model is one of the most comprehensive in terms of categorizing a wide range of human emotional experiences.

A concept closely related to the wide range of emotions we can experience is that of an emotional scale, also known as an emotional spectrum or hierarchy. This idea involves categorizing and ranking emotions based on various criteria such as their intensity, positivity or negativity, and how they relate to each other.

There are several emotional scales that are used to help us better understand and navigate our emotions. There is Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions, Russell’s Circumplex Model of Affect, David Hawkins’ Map of Consciousness and Abraham-Hicks’ Emotional Guidance Scale.

Emotional scales and models serve a variety of purposes, including therapeutic contexts, self-help, academic research, emotional intelligence training, spiritual growth and guidance, manifestation practices, and other esoteric and practical applications. They help people identify, categorize, and work with their emotions for improved emotional well-being and self-awareness.

Your emotions come in response to your thoughts. So a feeling is a manifestation because it’s coming in response to a thought. If you care about the way you feel, you will find a way to redirect your thoughts. It really is as simple as that ~ Abraham-Hicks

The notion of “working your way up the emotional scale” was proposed by Esther and Jerry Hicks, known for their channeled teachings on the Law of Attraction from the spiritual collective known as Abraham. The teachings of Abraham emphasize the importance of emotions as indicators of our vibrational alignment with our desires and well-being.

The Abraham-Hicks Emotional Guidance Scale

The Abraham-Hicks Emotional Guidance Scale is a tool designed to help us understand our emotions and consciously shift to more positive states. The scale includes a range of 22 emotions ranked from highest to lowest vibrational frequency:

1. Joy/Knowledge/Empower/Freedom/Love/Appreciation
2. Passion
3. Enthusiasm/Eagerness/Happiness
4. Positive Expectation/Belief
5. Optimism
6. Hope
7. Contentment
8. Boredom
9. Pessimism
10. Frustration/Irritation/Impatience
11. Overwhelm
12. Disappointment
13. Doubt
14. Worry
15. Guilt
16. Discouragement
17. Anger
18. Revenge
19. Hate/Rage
20. Jealousy
21. Insecurity/Guilt/Unworthiness
22. Fear/Grief/Depression/Despair/Powerlessness

Feelings are not the real self. Whereas feelings are programs that come and go, the real inner Self always stays the same; therefore, it is necessary to stop identifying transient feelings as yourself ~ David R. Hawkins

Emotion And Your Vibrational Frequency

Why is it important to move up the emotional scale? The answer is simply that whatever our vibrational frequency is, whatever energetic vibe we choose to put out into the universe, we are cosmically aligning ourselves to manifest more of it. Like attracts like, and your vibe attracts your tribe.

Our emotions are indicators of our vibrational frequency because they reflect the energetic quality of our thoughts, beliefs and perceptions. Higher vibrational emotions align you with positive experiences and manifestations. When we are in a place of joy, we attract more of what is joyful, but when we are vibrating from a place of fear, we attract more of what is fearful!

Like attracts like, and your emotions are a sign of what you are currently aligned with and most likely to attract. For example, if you are hoping to find a better paying job, ask yourself how you currently feel about the possibility of that happening. If you feel insecure or unworthy of such a prospect, then you clearly have a long way to go to get to a place where you feel optimistic or have a positive expectation about it. And that means that your chances of finding that dream job are a long way off and very unlikely at this point.

By paying attention to our emotional state and consciously choosing to cultivate higher frequency emotions, we can raise our vibrational frequency, align with our true desires, and attract more positive experiences into our lives.

David Hawkins’ Map of Consciousness categorizes emotions according to their vibratory frequency, with lower frequency emotions associated with lower levels of consciousness and higher frequency emotions associated with higher levels of consciousness. These emotions are arranged in ascending order of frequency, with the higher frequency emotions being associated with higher levels of consciousness, spiritual evolution, and well-being. According to Hawkins’ model, as we evolve spiritually, we naturally gravitate toward a higher frequency.

Therefore, if you want to change your life for the better, experience more happiness and fulfillment, and attract more prosperity and abundance, then carefully consider your current position on the emotional scale. Recognizing and acknowledging where you are on the emotional scale serves as a guide to your vibrational alignment. Your current dominant emotional state tells you what vibe you are putting out there. Once you become aware of this, you can begin to figure out how to move forward from that point and begin to work your way up the vibrational scale.

It is important to acknowledge your current feelings, be okay with them, and not ignore them. Remind yourself that this is where you are now, and even if it is a difficult place, it is only temporary. Then turn your attention to the better feeling emotional state that you want to cultivate in the future. Determine which emotion you believe you should be vibrating in order to attract more of what you want.

The next step is to consciously begin to work on moving from lower, negative emotional states to higher, positive ones. But please do not expect to jump from sadness to joy in one fell swoop, for this is often impossible and will only set you up for failure or disappointment. Drastic jumps from a low emotional state to a very high one are simply not sustainable or realistic. Instead, try to work your way up the emotional scale in stages. Small, incremental shifts in your emotional state are more effective and manageable.

If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far ~ Daniel Goleman

How To Raise Your Emotional Frequency

Here are some tried and true practices and techniques that can help facilitate this process:

Take action: Often the first step is simply to take some form of positive action. Just get up and do something constructive! This is one of the fastest ways to start moving up the emotional scale. Do something that naturally makes you feel good. Is it a walk on the beach where you can breathe in the glorious salty sea air, taking your dog for a walk in the park, baking a loaf of bread, listening to your favorite music, or going to the local gym? It is different for each of us, but whatever it is for you, go and do it. Take some action and your emotional vibes will soon rise.

Practice discernment: Become more aware of the type of information you consume and the people and environments you interact with, as this directly affects your mental and emotional state. It is important to keep as much of what you hear, see, and read as emotionally uplifting as possible, while avoiding negative people, toxic environments, and dysfunctional situations. By choosing to surround yourself with positivity and minimizing exposure to negativity, you foster a more positive outlook and reduce the likelihood of being pulled down into lower emotional states.

Find inspiration: You don’t have to look far to find the stories of people who have faced more challenges in their lives than you have. You can find their inspiring stories on social media, YouTube, podcasts, books, and audio recordings. Be inspired by their experiences. If they were able to overcome their challenges, which were much greater than yours, you can do the same!

Practice gratitude: Even if you are not in the best place or would like to be in a better place, we all have something to be grateful for. An attitude of gratitude shifts our focus from what’s lacking or negative to what’s abundant and positive in our lives. Make a conscious effort to count your blessings each day. Focus on what you have to attract more of it. Keep a gratitude journal in which you write down at least three things you’re grateful for each day.

Mindful meditation: Mindfulness helps you become aware of your current emotional state and cultivate a sense of peace and presence. Spend 10-20 minutes each day in mindfulness meditation, focusing on your breath and observing your thoughts and emotions without judgment.

Positive affirmations: An affirmation practice can reframe your mindset and promote a more positive outlook. Make a list of affirmations that resonate with you, such as “I am worthy,” “I am capable,” or “I am loved. Repeat them daily, especially when you are feeling down.

Energy work: Practices such as reiki, acupuncture, crystal work, and other forms of energy healing help to release emotional blockages and balance your energy. Find a reputable practitioner or learn basic techniques to practice on yourself, such as chakra balancing or tapping.

Memory flashbacks: A great way to change your mood quickly is to take a trip down memory lane. Take a look back at some of your positive, happy memories. For example, it could be holding your new baby for the first time, getting that job offer out of the blue, achieving business success, or receiving a well-deserved compliment. Remember how it made you feel and access that feeling. You see, your mood has already changed!

Visualization: How many times have you looked at a difficulty in your life and visualized an undesirable outcome? I know I have, it is fear based and very easy to do. In order to raise our vibration and get what we want rather than what we don’t want, we must be able to visualize a positive outcome regardless. Simply visualizing a positive outcome is enough to create positive emotions and access a higher level on the emotional scale, which in turn helps to attract your heart’s desires! Imagine yourself in positive scenarios and achieving your goals to boost your mood and motivation. Spend a few minutes each day visualizing your ideal future, focusing on the emotions you would feel if your dreams came true.

Show kindness: Engaging in acts of kindness and charitable work boosts your mood by fostering a sense of connection and contribution. Perform small, random acts of kindness, such as helping a neighbor, donating to charity, or simply giving a compliment.

Physical activity: Exercise releases endorphins, which can improve your mood and reduce stress. Incorporate regular physical activity into your routine, such as walking, running, yoga, martial arts, or any other activity you enjoy.

Creative expression: Engaging in creative activities can help process emotions and promote joy and fulfillment. Spend time on creative activities such as painting, writing, playing music, cooking, crafting, or any other form of artistic expression.

Connect with nature: Being in nature has a calming and uplifting effect on the mind, helping to improve your mood. Take regular walks in the park, go hiking, or just spend time outside appreciating the natural world.

Socialize: Positive social interactions can provide emotional support and increase feelings of belonging and happiness. Make time to connect with friends, family, or community groups, either in person or virtually. Social media generally does not count, especially if it is toxic and negative!

By incorporating some of these practices into your daily routine, you can gradually work your way higher up on the emotional scale, leading to greater emotional resilience, improved well-being, enhanced spiritual growth and increased abundance. While it may be impossible to consistently maintain a perfect high vibrational frequency, by working your way up the emotional scale you can achieve and maintain a fuller and happier life!