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.
I shouldn't be so emotional!
Feelings: fear, shame
Needs: expression, clarity
Feelings: fear, shame
Needs: expression, clarity
I shouldn't risk failing. I probably can't do it anyway.
Feelings: frustrated, depressed, tired
Needs: competency, purpose, autonomy
Feelings: frustrated, depressed, tired
Needs: competency, purpose, autonomy
I shouldn't be so fearful!
Feelings: disappointed, frustrated
Needs: peace, competence, confidence
Feelings: disappointed, frustrated
Needs: peace, competence, confidence
I should exercise more!
Feelings: disappointed, confused, guilty
Needs: health, consistency, self-trust, vibrancy, strength, beauty
Feelings: disappointed, confused, guilty
Needs: health, consistency, self-trust, vibrancy, strength, beauty
I should be achieving more!
Feelings: panicky, restless, guilty
Needs: belonging, contribution, meaning, acceptance
Feelings: panicky, restless, guilty
Needs: belonging, contribution, meaning, acceptance
I should be able to understand everything.
Feelings: worried, overwhelmed, uneasy
Needs: security, competence, order
Feelings: worried, overwhelmed, uneasy
Needs: security, competence, order
I should be able to let go of events from childhood.
Feelings: discouraged, burnt out,
Needs: healing, growth, hope, peace, wholeness
Feelings: discouraged, burnt out,
Needs: healing, growth, hope, peace, wholeness
I said I'm sorry!
Feelings: defensive, insecure, worried
Needs: connection, harmony, acceptance
Feelings: defensive, insecure, worried
Needs: connection, harmony, acceptance
I need to make everything right.
Feelings: worried, concerned
Needs: need to serve, integrity
Feelings: worried, concerned
Needs: need to serve, integrity
I love you so much! I'd die without you!
Feelings: joyful, alive
Needs: love, connection
Feelings: joyful, alive
Needs: love, connection
I just have to carry on. It's my responsibility
Feelings: tired, gloomy, overwhelmed
Needs: security, respect, honor
Feelings: tired, gloomy, overwhelmed
Needs: security, respect, honor
I have no value.
Feelings: grief, disappointment, loneliness, shame
Needs: purpose, contribution, meaning, community, self-connection
Feelings: grief, disappointment, loneliness, shame
Needs: purpose, contribution, meaning, community, self-connection
I have no purpose.
Feelings: confused, depressed, disconnected, hopeless
Needs: purpose, meaning, belonging, appreciation, contribution
Feelings: confused, depressed, disconnected, hopeless
Needs: purpose, meaning, belonging, appreciation, contribution
I have just been dumped on!
Feelings: angry, overwhelmed
Needs: choice, respect, consideration
Feelings: angry, overwhelmed
Needs: choice, respect, consideration
I have been abused!
Feelings: angry, hurt, frightened, resentful
Needs: healing, nurturing, safety, respect
Feelings: angry, hurt, frightened, resentful
Needs: healing, nurturing, safety, respect
I feel undermined!
Feelings: angry, resentful, shocked, frustrated
Needs: honesty, collaboration, trust, support
Feelings: angry, resentful, shocked, frustrated
Needs: honesty, collaboration, trust, support
I feel so abandoned!
Feelings: terrified, hurt, lonely, sad, bewildered
Needs: reassurance, belonging, connection, support
Feelings: terrified, hurt, lonely, sad, bewildered
Needs: reassurance, belonging, connection, support
I feel like everything is my fault!
Feelings: shame, hopeless
Needs: acceptance, empathy, support, mutual responsibility
Feelings: shame, hopeless
Needs: acceptance, empathy, support, mutual responsibility
I feel humiliated!
Feelings: embarrassed, ashamed, angry, dejected
Needs: respect, equity, compassion, consideration
Feelings: embarrassed, ashamed, angry, dejected
Needs: respect, equity, compassion, consideration
I feel helpless!
Feelings: scared, despair, frustration
Needs: support, empathy, agency
Feelings: scared, despair, frustration
Needs: support, empathy, agency