In this episode of #FeelingsMatter, hosts Heather Hampton, Michelle Stinson Ross, and Tina Schweiger explore the emotion of feeling moral - that sense of being connected to principles of right and wrong, especially regarding teaching right behavior. The conversation examines how moral feelings differ from other emotions because they're deeply rooted in our conditioning and values, making them particularly challenging to examine objectively. The hosts discuss how moral convictions can both guide positive action and fuel destructive conflicts.
Episode Highlights:
- Heather describes moral feelings as deeply tied to personal values and sense of self, making them more difficult to examine from different perspectives compared to other emotions, using current deportation policies as an example of how moral differences create unbridgeable gaps between people
- Michelle distinguishes moral emotions from other feelings by noting they're based more on conditioning, upbringing, and cultural training rather than biochemistry or neurological wiring, requiring us to acknowledge how our responses are shaped by what we've been taught
- Tina raises the provocative question of whether moral feelings might be "our deadliest emotion," pointing out that religious persecution and wars often involve both sides believing they're morally right
- The hosts discuss how moral feelings can interfere with kindness and empathy, with phrases like "get off your high horse" revealing how moral positioning can become judgmental rather than genuinely principled
- The conversation concludes with practical approaches to examining moral feelings, including using the "why ladder" technique to get to the root of beliefs and practicing self-acceptance to distinguish between core identity and potentially outdated belief systems
Podcast theme music by
Dubush Miaw from
PixabayThis episode of the #FeelingsMatter Podcast was recorded and produced at MSR Studios in Saint Paul, MN. No reproduction, excerpting, or other use without written permission.
This episode is sponsored by
FeelWise - bridging the gap between reflection and resilience, offering practical tools to help people overcome obstacles, embrace change, and grow stronger emotionally.
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