19 | When You Don't Know What You're Feeling: Naming Emotions in Uncertain Seasons with Doug Earl Johnston
Episode Description
There are moments when it's not that you don't feel anything.
It's that you feel too much all at once.
And none of it has a clear name.
In this episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, Laura sits down with author and researcher Doug Earl Johnston to explore what it means to name your emotions, especially during seasons of uncertainty, grief, overwhelm, and change.
If you've ever found yourself saying:
• I'm just tired.
• I'm overwhelmed.
• I don't know what's wrong.
• I don't even know what I'm feeling.
This conversation is for you.
Drawing from nearly a decade of research and his book Choosing Emotions, Doug shares why language matters, how emotions shape our lives, and why naming what we're feeling is often the first step toward healing and clarity. As Doug explains, many people struggle to identify emotions because they rely on only a small emotional vocabulary when there may be hundreds of emotional experiences happening beneath the surface.
In This Episode
• why "tired" and "overwhelmed" only tell part of the story
• how naming emotions creates clarity
• understanding what you're actually feeling
• emotional awareness and self-understanding
• the connection between emotions, healing, and growth
• why words matter more than we realize
• practical ways to begin identifying emotions
• learning to approach emotions with curiosity instead of judgment
Counter Pause
Take a slow breath.
Then gently ask yourself:
What am I actually feeling right now?
Not what I should feel.
Not what sounds acceptable.
Just what's true.
You don't have to solve it.
Just name it.
Breath Prayer
Breathe in: God of truth...
Breathe out: Help me notice.
About Doug
Doug Earl Johnston is a former corporate executive, researcher, and author of Choosing Emotions: Thinking with Your Head and Acting with Your Heart.
After nearly a decade of research across disciplines and traditions, Doug created a resource designed to help people better understand what they feel and how to move forward with greater clarity.
Resources Mentioned
Choosing Emotions: Thinking with Your Head and Acting with Your Heart
Connect with Doug
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/choosingemotions
Website:
https://choosingemotions.com/
Gentle Reminder
You don't have to carry unnamed things forever.
Sometimes healing begins with one honest word.
Closing
Pull up a chair.
There's space for you here.
If this episode met you where you are, I’d love to hear from you. What stayed with you?
☕ The counter is always open.
If today's conversation stirred something in you, you'll find more gentle reflections, soul care resources, and ways to connect at BakingPastor.com.
You can also explore the At the Counter Soul Pause Journal, created as a companion for quiet moments of prayer, reflection, and everyday faith.
And if you'd like to share a question, reflection, prayer request, or something that's been sitting with you, visit Voices from the Counter and leave a message. You may even hear your voice in a future episode.
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