Jackal Dictionary
Part of cultivating compassion is learning to hear the feelings and needs people are expressing regardless of the words they use. This dictionary is meant to help you in that process. If you are having difficulty guessing the feelings and needs behind someone's words, you can enter the words or phrase into the Jackal Dictionary search engine. A list of possible feelings and needs will pop up for you to consider. If you don't find a phrase you are looking for, email it to us and we will add it to the dictionary.
Great job!
Feelings: happy, pleased, proud, excited
Needs: collaboration, celebration, contribution
Feelings: happy, pleased, proud, excited
Needs: collaboration, celebration, contribution
Don't blame me!
Feelings: fear, anger, hurt
Needs: to be seen/heard, acceptance, mutuality
Feelings: fear, anger, hurt
Needs: to be seen/heard, acceptance, mutuality
Discounted - I feel discounted
Feelings: hurt, small, embarrassed, lonely
Needs: inclusion, to be seen/heard, acknowledgment
Feelings: hurt, small, embarrassed, lonely
Needs: inclusion, to be seen/heard, acknowledgment
Coerced - He coerced me
Feelings: angry, frightened, frustrated, disoriented
Needs: choice, consideration
Feelings: angry, frightened, frustrated, disoriented
Needs: choice, consideration
Cheated - you cheated me
Feelings: resentful, hurt, angry
Needs: fairness, trust, honesty
Feelings: resentful, hurt, angry
Needs: fairness, trust, honesty
Can't you put down your iPhone?!
Feelings: frustrated, hurt, confused
Needs: caring, focus, respect, connection
Feelings: frustrated, hurt, confused
Needs: caring, focus, respect, connection
Can't we just forget about it?!
Feelings: exasperated, shocked, defensive, afraid
Needs: harmony, ease, fun, connection, acceptance
Feelings: exasperated, shocked, defensive, afraid
Needs: harmony, ease, fun, connection, acceptance
Bullied - I am being bullied
Feelings: angry, scared, frustrated
Needs: autonomy, consideration, respect
Feelings: angry, scared, frustrated
Needs: autonomy, consideration, respect
Betrayed - I feel betrayed
Feelings: angry, shocked, hurt, outraged
Needs: trust, honesty, predictability
Feelings: angry, shocked, hurt, outraged
Needs: trust, honesty, predictability
Belittled - I feel belittled
Feelings: angry, defensive, disappointed
Needs: respect, to be seen/heard, acknowledgment
Feelings: angry, defensive, disappointed
Needs: respect, to be seen/heard, acknowledgment
[Insert least favorite politician] is a nazi!
Feelings: irate, afraid
Needs: security, freedom, preservation of life
Feelings: irate, afraid
Needs: security, freedom, preservation of life