CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- I've heard that positive and negative emotions can't occupy the mind at the same time.

So it stands to reason that if we just experience positive emotions all the time, the negative ones won't be able to seep in, right? If only it were that easy.

In his seminal work "Think and Grow Rich," author Napoleon Hill spent 20 years interviewing the most successful people in America to learn their secrets. Hill not only explored the richness of material wealth, but also the characteristics that caused these people to lead full, rich lives. His theory breaks down emotions as follows.

Positive emotions

Negative emotions

While there are many theories on emotions, I've found this one to be very thought-provoking. And I've tried it out on myself. I have to admit that when I'm experiencing one of the positive emotions, there's not much room for the negative ones.

I believe Hill was referring to the present moment when he developed his theory. Obviously, one could feel desire for something and also experience fear about achieving it. Or one could be angry at a spouse and still feel love for him or her. The key, in my opinion, is to recognize which emotions you're feeling in any given situation - in the moment.

If you're stuck in a negative mode, it may be helpful to look at the list of seven positive emotions to see if you can find some reason to experience one of them. Even if it's for a short time, the possibility exists to flip the emotion.

And then there are the situations when we feel like we're being bombarded by multiple emotions all at once. Such was the case last week when I was talking with my good friend and colleague Dick Allowatt. Dick had just returned from a visit to the Cleveland Clinic with more questions than answers. He mentioned he was experiencing all kinds of feelings - anger, confusion and irritation, to name a few.

That prompted me to research the topic of positive and negative emotions - ranging from scientific studies in professional journals to anecdotal references.

Emotion has been described as energy in motion. It's a way of expressing oneself in life - and the quality of how one relates to life.

We're always experiencing some type of emotion or feeling. Our emotional state varies throughout the day as a result of what happens to us - and of the stimuli we perceive. However, we may not always be conscious of it, according to a published review by Gonzales, Barrull, Pons and Marteles on a pioneering study on emotions by professor V.J. Wukmir, author of "Emotion and Suffering." When emotions are described as positive or negative, it's not so much a value judgment as it is a description of the main action of each group.

Negative emotions express an intention to exclude - strengthening one's position at the expense of others. They're fueled by an underlying fear of the unknown, a fear of the actions of others and a need to control them or stop them to avoid being harmed.

Positive emotions express an intention to include - taking the whole into consideration. Positive emotions involve the exploration of more viewpoints and interacting more with others. They're fueled by an underlying desire for enjoyment and unity.

Some emotions camouflage as positive or negative, but really are the opposite of what they pretend, according to the Transformational Processing Institute. For example, there's a type of pity that appears as genuine concern for others, but which is taking comfort in the fact that someone else is worse off than you.

Although it might sound like the negative emotions are just something to get rid of, that's not necessarily the case. They actually serve important functions. They can reveal something one doesn't know and can't deal with. If that becomes motivation to then learn it and deal with it, this can be very useful. If you're always joyful, for example, you might miss noticing things that are wrong.

As human beings, we express all sorts of combinations of emotions. Some of us could be chronically stuck in a negative emotion. Others might be stuck in a positive one. And in stressful situations, we tend to react according to certain emotional patterns. A casual remark might push a button that unleashes pent-up anger. Sound familiar?

A helpful goal is to be fluid in terms of emotion - being able to use whatever emotion is most appropriate - and being able to use the full range as necessary. Most likely, a person who is fluid and flexible will choose to live mostly in a positive frame of mind. But the goal is actually integration - moving beyond the positive/

Which brings me back to my friend, Dick. Since he's going through this health challenge, I took the liberty of sharing some reworked song lyrics with him. With apologies to The Righteous Brothers and others who have recorded "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," I coined the following version to help flip the emotion in a positive direction:

You've got that hea-ea-ling fee-eeling

Who-oa, that healing feeling

You've got that healing feeling

Disease is gone, gone, gone

Who-oa, who-oa, whoa.

We've adopted this as "our song" to get through these uncertain times. It isn't meant to make light of the challenging situation - only to shed light on a different perspective. (And don't worry. I'm not quitting my day job).

Linda Arnold, MBA, is a certified wellness instructor and chairwoman of The Arnold Agency, an integrated marketing communications firm in Charleston. Reader comments or questions may be directed to Linda Arnold, The Arnold Agency, 117 Summers St., Charleston, WV 25301, or e-mailed to livinglifefu...@arnoldagency.com.