--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Negative emotions like loneliness, envy…" description: "\"Negative emotions like loneliness, envy, and guilt have an important role to play in a happy life; they're big, flashing signs that something needs to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/gretchen-rubin-867_bigs_negative-emotions-like-loneliness-envy-a_417107.png" --- # Negative emotions like loneliness, envy, and guilt have an… ![“Negative emotions like loneliness, envy, and guilt have an important role to play in a happy life; they're big, flashing signs that something needs to change.” quote by Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/gretchen-rubin-867_bigs_negative-emotions-like-loneliness-envy-a_417107.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/gretchen-rubin-867_bigs_negative-emotions-like-loneliness-envy-a_417107.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/gretchen-rubin-867_bigs_negative-emotions-like-loneliness-envy-a_417107.png) > “Negative emotions like loneliness, envy, and guilt have an important role to play in a happy life; they're big, flashing signs that something needs to change.” [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Negative emotions signal unmet needs; recognizing them guides personal growth and happiness. **In simple terms:** Emotions are clues for change. Key Takeaway Listen to and act on uncomfortable feelings. Themes psychology self‑help emotions Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - career - health - personal growth Key Concepts self‑awareness emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - What does your loneliness reveal about your needs? - How can you turn envy into motivation? A Different Perspective Focusing too much on negatives can cause rumination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Happy life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness/) [Need a change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-a-change/) [Negative emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-emotions/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) ## Related quotes > [The beautiful thing about music is that even so-called negative emotions like anger, sadness, frustration, when they come through the filter of music, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiromi/the-beautiful-thing-about-music-is-that-even-so-called-negative/) [Hiromi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiromi/) > [In the scope of a happy life, a messy desk or an overstuffed coat closet is a trivial thing, yet I find - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/in-the-scope-of-a-happy-life-a-messy-desk-or-an-overstuffed-coat/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“I have always felt that putting emotions into words was an exercise in futility, they're often more complex than words can manage and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devouree/i-have-always-felt-that-putting-emotions-into-words-was-an-exercise/) Devouree > [Life without emotions is like an engine without fuel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-astor/life-without-emotions-is-like-an-engine-without-fuel/) [Mary Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-astor/) > [“Surprisingly, I felt no anger towards him. He was just Man. Man in his basic, rudimentary state, easily moved by powerful emotions like love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helon-habila/surprisingly-i-felt-no-anger-towards-him-he-was-just-man-man-in-his/) [Helon Habila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helon-habila/) > [Emotions were like wild horses and it required wisdom to be able to control them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/emotions-were-like-wild-horses-and-it-required-wisdom-to-be-able-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I understand emotions more than anyone else. I study emotions like a biologist studies various species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-gopal-varma/i-understand-emotions-more-than-anyone-else-i-study-emotions-like-a/) [Ram Gopal Varma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-gopal-varma/) > [Emotions fascinate me, just being able to express myself through acting. I love that. And I think, in everyday life, you're always trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-comer/emotions-fascinate-me-just-being-able-to-express-myself-through/) [Jodie Comer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-comer/) > [“Emotions like these didn't happen to regular, everyday people. They couldn't or else the entire world would be fornicating all the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-m-pillow/emotions-like-these-didn-t-happen-to-regular-everyday-people-they/) [Michelle M. Pillow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-m-pillow/) > [He liked to observe emotions; they were like red lanterns strung along the dark unknown of another's personality, marking vulnerable points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/he-liked-to-observe-emotions-they-were-like-red-lanterns-strung-along/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“Emotions are like soul of ur soul ..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave/emotions-are-like-soul-of-ur-soul/) [Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave/) > [I enjoy plummeting the depths of my emotions. Like when I'm acting, I actually find it easier to cry than laugh, for example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/i-enjoy-plummeting-the-depths-of-my-emotions-like-when-i-m-acting-i/) [Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/) > [No emotions are bad. But if they stay for long, then it is bad. Emotions should be like a line drawn on the surface…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/no-emotions-are-bad-but-if-they-stay-for-long-then-it-is-bad-emotions/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [“I can’t do that. I can’t turn my emotions off and on like that. I’m either all in or all out. And if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aileen-erin/i-can-t-do-that-i-can-t-turn-my-emotions-off-and-on-like-that-i-m/) [Aileen Erin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aileen-erin/) > [Emotions are like waves. Watch them disappear in the distance on the vast calm ocean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/emotions-are-like-waves-watch-them-disappear-in-the-distance-on-the/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) ## More by Gretchen Rubin > [“Second Splendid Truth One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/second-splendid-truth-one-of-the-best-ways-to-make-yourself-happy-is/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Knowing what you admire in others is a wonderful mirror into your deepest, as yet unborn, self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/knowing-what-you-admire-in-others-is-a-wonderful-mirror-into-your/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Being taken for granted is an unpleasant but sincere form of praise. Ironically, the more reliable you are and the less you complain, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/being-taken-for-granted-is-an-unpleasant-but-sincere-form-of-praise/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“one Secret of Adulthood is “Never start a sentence with the words ‘No offense’”? “And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-secret-of-adulthood-is-never-start-a-sentence-with-the-words-no/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [One of the findings that really interests me is that, although we think we ACT because of the way we FEEL, we often FEEL…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-of-the-findings-that-really-interests-me-is-that-although-we/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [We all want to get along well with other people, and one way to do this is to help people feel good about themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/we-all-want-to-get-along-well-with-other-people-and-one-way-to-do/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [During my study of happiness, I noticed something that surprised me: I often learn more from one person's highly idiosyncratic experiences than I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/during-my-study-of-happiness-i-noticed-something-that-surprised-me-i/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [There is a preppy wabi-sabi to soft, faded khakis and cotton shirts, but it's not nice to be surrounded by things that are worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/there-is-a-preppy-wabi-sabi-to-soft-faded-khakis-and-cotton-shirts/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“There are times in the lives of most of us,” observed William Edward Hartpole Lecky, “when we would have given all the world to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/there-are-times-in-the-lives-of-most-of-us-observed-william-edward/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“I started thinking more about music. I thought I'd accepted the fact that, as part of "Being Gretchen," I didn't really like music, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-started-thinking-more-about-music-i-thought-i-d-accepted-the-fact/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [If you've had something for more than six months, and it's still not repaired, it's clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-six-months-and-it-s-still-not/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“The pleasure of doing the same thing, in the same way, every day, shouldn't be overlooked. The things I do every day take on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/the-pleasure-of-doing-the-same-thing-in-the-same-way-every-day/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Although we often assume that feelings inspire actions, in fact, actions also inspire feelings. By pushing myself to act happier, I make myself feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/although-we-often-assume-that-feelings-inspire-actions-in-fact/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [I love finding - or inventing - ways to categorize people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-love-finding-or-inventing-ways-to-categorize-people/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“After someone's death, how strange to see the value drain away from his or her possessions; useful objects such as clothes, or dish towels,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/after-someone-s-death-how-strange-to-see-the-value-drain-away-from/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) [Explore all 346 Gretchen Rubin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) ## More Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) Browse all 15,539 Bigs quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Negative emotions like loneliness, envy, and guilt have an important role to play in a happy life; they're big, flashing signs that something needs to change.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gretchen Rubin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/negative-emotions-like-loneliness-envy-and-guilt-have-an-important/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bigs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/negative-emotions-like-loneliness-envy-and-guilt-have-an-important/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/gretchen-rubin-867_bigs_negative-emotions-like-loneliness-envy-a_417107.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/gretchen-rubin-867_bigs_negative-emotions-like-loneliness-envy-a_417107.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f8/gretchen-rubin-867_bigs_negative-emotions-like-loneliness-envy-a_417107.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Negative emotions like loneliness, envy, and guilt have an important role to play in a happy life; they're…” — Gretchen Rubin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gretchen Rubin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Negative emotions like loneliness, envy, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/negative-emotions-like-loneliness-envy-and-guilt-have-an-important/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/negative-emotions-like-loneliness-envy-and-guilt-have-an-important/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```