Some feelings are loud. Some are quiet. And sometimes, when you are in the middle of it all, it can be hard to know where to begin.
That is where the Emotional Guidance Scale comes in.
The Emotional Guidance Scale is a 22-step list of emotions from Abraham Hicks. It is meant to help you notice how you feel and gently shift toward something that feels a little better. Not perfect. Just a little better. One small step at a time.
If you have ever felt stuck in worry, frustration, fear, or self-doubt, this scale can offer a soft place to start. Think of it like a map with breadcrumbs. You do not have to leap to joy right away. You only have to find the next possible step.
What Is the Emotional Guidance Scale?
The Emotional Guidance Scale is a 22-step hierarchy of emotions developed by Abraham Hicks (Esther Hicks). It helps individuals identify their current vibrational state and move incrementally toward higher-frequency emotions like joy, love, and appreciation.
The Emotional Guidance Scale is a chart of emotions used in Abraham Hicks teachings.
At the bottom of the scale are the lower, heavier feeling emotions and escalates up to better feeling emotions landing at joy, love and appreciation.
The idea is simple. Your emotions are giving you information.
Not to judge you. Not to correct you. Just to help you notice where you are, so you can choose your next step with a little more care.
The Full Emotional Guidance Scale List
Here are the 22 emotions in the Abraham Hicks Emotional Guidance Scale, from highest to lowest:
Emotional Guidance Scale
| 1. | Joy, appreciation, empowerment, freedom, love |
| 2. | Passion |
| 3. | Enthusiasm, eagerness, happiness |
| 4. | Positive expectation, belief |
| 5. | Optimism |
| 6. | Hopefulness |
| 7. | Contentment |
| 8. | Boredom |
| 9. | Pessimism |
| 10. | Frustration, irritation, impatience |
| 11. | Overwhelm |
| 12. | Disappointment |
| 13. | Doubt |
| 14. | Worry |
| 15. | Blame |
| 16. | Discouragement |
| 17. | Anger |
| 18. | Revenge |
| 19. | Hatred, rage |
| 20. | Jealousy |
| 21. | Insecurity, guilt, unworthiness |
| 22. | Fear, grief, depression, despair, powerlessness |
If you have seen this called the Abraham Hicks emotional scale or the emotional guidance scale chart, it is the same thing.

How to Use the Emotional Guidance Scale in 5 Easy Steps.
Using the scale does not need to feel complicated.
In fact, it works best when it feels gentle.
- Pause and notice how you feel. Just name it. No fixing yet.
- Find your place on the scale. Are you in worry? Frustration? Boredom? Contentment?
- Look for the next feeling that is slightly better. Not perfect. Just a little softer.
- Reach for a thought that matches that feeling. A small shift can be enough.
- Move slowly.
There is no race here. This is more like following a trail of breadcrumbs home.
The scale is not asking you to fake positivity. It is inviting you to soften into the next possible step.
That may not sound dramatic. But honestly, that is often how real healing begins. Quietly. Kindly. One small shift at a time.
How to Move Up the Emotional Guidance Scale
You do not usually move from fear to joy in one big leap. Most of the time, that is simply too much for a tender nervous system.
What helps more is a smaller move.
- From fear to worry
- From worry to doubt
- From doubt to hope
- From frustration to contentment
- From boredom to optimism
These are little steps, but little steps matter.
A little more breath. A little less pressure. A little more space around your thoughts. Sometimes that is enough to let the wall soften.

Why the Emotional Guidance Scale Helps
This scale can be comforting because it gives your feelings a place to land.
Instead of asking, “Why am I like this?” in a harsh way, it gives you a softer question:
Where am I right now, and what feels a little better than this?
That is a powerful shift.
People often use the Emotional Guidance Scale to:
- understand their feelings more clearly
- calm emotional spirals
- feel less stuck
- find a next step when everything feels foggy
- practice self-awareness without pressure
It is not about becoming positive all the time. Let’s be real, that is not how humans work.
It is about noticing what is true, and then reaching for something kinder.
What Is the Purpose of the Emotional Guidance Scale?
The purpose of the Emotional Guidance Scale is to help you shift your emotions with more ease.
It does not ask you to push away difficult feelings. It does not ask you to pretend.
It simply offers a way to say, “This is where I am, and maybe there is one small step I can take from here.”
That next step might be tiny. That is okay.
Tiny still counts.
What Does the Emotional Guidance Scale Mean?
The Emotional Guidance Scale means that emotions can guide you instead of overwhelm you.
If a feeling is heavy, it may be asking for rest, compassion, or a gentler thought. If a feeling is lighter, it may be showing you that you are already moving in a steadier direction.
In a way, it is like checking the weather inside yourself.
You do not scold the storm. You notice it. You honor it. Then you choose what kind of care you need next.
What Emotion Is Highest on the Emotional Guidance Scale?
The highest emotion on the scale is joy, followed by appreciation, empowerment, freedom, and love.
These are the feelings that tend to feel open, peaceful, and expansive.
What Emotion Is Lowest on the Emotional Guidance Scale?
The lowest emotion on the scale is fear, grief, depression, despair, and powerlessness.
If you are there, please know this. You do not need to force yourself out of it all at once.
You can begin with one soft breath. One gentler thought. One tiny bit of support.
Can You Use the Emotional Guidance Scale If You Do Not Follow Abraham Hicks?
Yes, absolutely.
Even if you do not connect with Abraham Hicks teachings, you can still use the scale as a simple emotional check-in.
You can think of it as a way to notice your feelings, make sense of them, and gently move toward something that feels a little more aligned.
That is often enough to help.
FAQ
What is the Emotional Guidance Scale?
The Emotional Guidance Scale is a 22-step list of emotions used in Abraham Hicks teachings. It helps people notice how they feel and move toward a better-feeling emotion one step at a time.
What are the 22 emotions on the Emotional Guidance Scale?
The 22 emotions are joy, appreciation, empowerment, freedom, love, passion, enthusiasm, eagerness, happiness, positive expectation, belief, optimism, hopefulness, contentment, boredom, pessimism, frustration, irritation, impatience, overwhelm, disappointment, doubt, worry, blame, discouragement, anger, revenge, hatred, rage, jealousy, insecurity, guilt, unworthiness, fear, grief, depression, despair, and powerlessness.
How do you use the Emotional Guidance Scale?
Start by noticing how you feel now. Then look for the next emotion that feels a little better. The goal is to shift gently, not force a big change.
How do you move up the Emotional Guidance Scale?
You move up by choosing thoughts, actions, or focus points that feel slightly softer or more hopeful than where you are now.
Is the Emotional Guidance Scale from Abraham Hicks?
No, not exactly. The Abraham Hicks Emotional Guidance Scale is a specific 22-step scale used in Abraham Hicks teachings. Therapists and mental health professionals may use other emotional scales or feeling charts that are different from this one.
A Small Takeaway
The Emotional Guidance Scale is really a kindness tool.
It reminds you that your feelings matter. Even the messy ones. Even the heavy ones. It helps you see that emotional change does not have to be dramatic to be real.
Sometimes the most meaningful shift is quiet.
A little less fear. A little more hope. A little more breath. A little more room to soften.
And if today feels hard, that is okay too. You do not have to solve everything right now. You only have to meet yourself where you are, with a little tenderness.
That is enough to begin.
About Vickie
I’ve spent more than 20 years exploring the intersection of mindset and energy. My journey began with Wayne Dyer, who opened the door to the teachings of Abraham Hicks, which I strive to integrate into my daily life. Alongside the Law of Attraction, I am a long-time practitioner of EFT, having started my training with Gary Craig’s original methods. Whether I’m tapping through blocks or (attempting) to find a quiet moment for meditation, my goal is to help you move beyond "magic" and toward a grounded, intentional life.

