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.
You were a good daughter the first day or two. Now, you are only showing the worst sides of yourself. I can only be sad and disappointed in you.
Feelings: sad, dissappointed, confused
Needs: clarity, understanding, harmony
Feelings: sad, dissappointed, confused
Needs: clarity, understanding, harmony
You used to touch me. Now, you don't hug me or touch me. And, you recoil when I try to hug you and be close to you.
Feelings: afraid, lonely, confused, hurt
Needs: clarity, connection, acceptance, affection
Feelings: afraid, lonely, confused, hurt
Needs: clarity, connection, acceptance, affection
You took it upon yourself to...
Feelings: resentment, bitterness, disappointment
Needs: consideration, collaboration, choice, participation
Feelings: resentment, bitterness, disappointment
Needs: consideration, collaboration, choice, participation
You started it!
Feelings: defensive, angry
Needs: to be seen/heard, fairness, safety
Feelings: defensive, angry
Needs: to be seen/heard, fairness, safety
You shouldn't feel angry!
Feelings: frustration, anguish
Needs: connection, acceptance
Feelings: frustration, anguish
Needs: connection, acceptance
You shouldn't feel that way!
Feelings: uncomfortable, irritated, confused
Needs: ease, peace, clarity
Feelings: uncomfortable, irritated, confused
Needs: ease, peace, clarity
You should just commit.
Feelings: concerned, anxious
Needs: predictability, responsibility, trust
Feelings: concerned, anxious
Needs: predictability, responsibility, trust
You should be over this by now.
Feelings: impatient, overwhelmed
Needs: efficiency, ease, harmony
Feelings: impatient, overwhelmed
Needs: efficiency, ease, harmony
You never listen!
Feelings: angry, frustrated, lonely, grief
Needs: to be seen/heard, intimacy, empathy, companionship
Feelings: angry, frustrated, lonely, grief
Needs: to be seen/heard, intimacy, empathy, companionship
You never learned to listen, because your whole family never listens!
Feelings: impatient, annoyed
Needs: competence, to be seen/heard
Feelings: impatient, annoyed
Needs: competence, to be seen/heard
You never help out.
Feelings: resentful, irritated, disappointed, lonely, overwhelmed
Needs: mutuality, collaboration, partnership, companionship, support
Feelings: resentful, irritated, disappointed, lonely, overwhelmed
Needs: mutuality, collaboration, partnership, companionship, support
You need to clarify what you want in life.
Feelings: confused, overwhelmed
Needs: clarity, safety
Feelings: confused, overwhelmed
Needs: clarity, safety
You need to be less sensitive, and stop feeling sorry for yourself.
Feelings: uncomfortable, overwhelmed
Needs: ease, clarity
Feelings: uncomfortable, overwhelmed
Needs: ease, clarity
You lied to me!
Feelings: anger, shock, hurt, fear, disappointment, grief
Needs: honesty, trust, security
Feelings: anger, shock, hurt, fear, disappointment, grief
Needs: honesty, trust, security
You have to see deeply.
Feelings: impatient, concerned
Needs: competency, growth, learning
Feelings: impatient, concerned
Needs: competency, growth, learning
You don't take any of my ideas.
Feelings: irritation, discouraged, sad
Needs: inclusion, respect, participation, mutuality
Feelings: irritation, discouraged, sad
Needs: inclusion, respect, participation, mutuality
You don't seem to hear what I say!
Feelings: exasperated, puzzled, disturbed
Needs: connection, clarity, to be heard, acknowledgment
Feelings: exasperated, puzzled, disturbed
Needs: connection, clarity, to be heard, acknowledgment
You don't listen to me!
Feelings: frustrated, disheartened, lonely
Needs: to be seen/heard, acknowledgment, respect
Feelings: frustrated, disheartened, lonely
Needs: to be seen/heard, acknowledgment, respect
You don't know how to take care of yourself.
Feelings: worried, frustrated
Needs: preservation of life, reassurance
Feelings: worried, frustrated
Needs: preservation of life, reassurance
You don't have to understand everything I say.
Feelings: tense, worried, hopeless
Needs: compassion, ease, harmony
Feelings: tense, worried, hopeless
Needs: compassion, ease, harmony