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 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
I feel disrespected!
Feelings: angry, hurt, disheartened
Needs: respect, consideration, acknowledgement, appreciation
Feelings: angry, hurt, disheartened
Needs: respect, consideration, acknowledgement, appreciation
I feel attacked!
Feelings: scared, angry, defensive
Needs: safety, clarity, understanding
Feelings: scared, angry, defensive
Needs: safety, clarity, understanding
I didn't tell you, because I knew it would make you mad!
Feelings: worried, agitated
Needs: safety, consideration, peace
Feelings: worried, agitated
Needs: safety, consideration, peace
I can't explain what's going on for me.
Feelings: confused, overwhelmed
Needs: clarity, connection
Feelings: confused, overwhelmed
Needs: clarity, connection
I can't do this anymore! I can't take the pressure!
Feelings: overwhelmed, alone
Needs: connection, support, choice
Feelings: overwhelmed, alone
Needs: connection, support, choice
I can't do anything right for you!
Feelings: hurt, angry, baffled
Needs: acknowledgment, appreciation, to be seen/heard, ease
Feelings: hurt, angry, baffled
Needs: acknowledgment, appreciation, to be seen/heard, ease
I am worthless!
Feelings: dejected, depressed
Needs: purpose, love, community, self-connection, compassion
Feelings: dejected, depressed
Needs: purpose, love, community, self-connection, compassion
I am too needy!
Feelings: overwhelmed, embarrassed, ashamed
Needs: clarity, acceptance, community, compassion, empathy
Feelings: overwhelmed, embarrassed, ashamed
Needs: clarity, acceptance, community, compassion, empathy
I am such a wimp!
Feelings: discouraged, frustrated
Needs: competence, clarity, support, empowerment
Feelings: discouraged, frustrated
Needs: competence, clarity, support, empowerment
I am stuck, and can't be free.
Feelings: disheartened, exhausted, worried, hopeless
Needs: choice, support, clarity, compassion, empowerment
Feelings: disheartened, exhausted, worried, hopeless
Needs: choice, support, clarity, compassion, empowerment
I am so lazy!
Feelings: shame, guilt, anger
Needs: aliveness, connection, inspiration, contribution, empowerment
Feelings: shame, guilt, anger
Needs: aliveness, connection, inspiration, contribution, empowerment
I am a boring person.
Feelings: ashamed, disconnected, despondent
Needs: friendship, play, connection, discovery, community
Feelings: ashamed, disconnected, despondent
Needs: friendship, play, connection, discovery, community
I am a bad person.
Feelings: shame, guilt, depression
Needs: acceptance, healing, empathy, love
Feelings: shame, guilt, depression
Needs: acceptance, healing, empathy, love
How do you expect me to make it alone?
Feelings: anxious
Needs: security
Feelings: anxious
Needs: security
How could you let them take advantage of you?!
Feelings: frightened, disappointed, appalled
Needs: honesty, fairness, independence
Feelings: frightened, disappointed, appalled
Needs: honesty, fairness, independence
How are you going to fix this?
Feelings: frustrated, disappointed
Needs: safety, trust, support, clarity
Feelings: frustrated, disappointed
Needs: safety, trust, support, clarity