Take a moment and recall the most recent “emotion” you felt. What comes to mind? For most people, it’s a “hot” emotion—that is, a physically and mentally intense experience like joy, anger, or grief, during which your palms sweated, your mouth felt dry, and your heart pounded (Berscheid & Regan, 2005). Understanding what emotions are and how they differ from feelings and moods are the first steps in better managing our emotions.