The practical difference between emotions and feelings

Beyond questioning self versus identity, I also wonder about the practical difference between emotions and feelings. The latter topic came to mind as I listened to a lecture on Aesthetics and theories of expression. Turning to Damasio, I feel reasonably correct in saying that an emotion is the organic stirring that happens when we look at a work of art or hear a musical composition. The art or music constitutionally reforms us; we feel the internal movement from one internal state to another. Suddenly, we are aware of our own existence, and so, we are aware that our identity is in flux. In practice it might work like this: a piece of music may make us feel uplifted and the feeling may lead us to start in again on a project that seemed too overwhelming. The project loomed very large and our abilities too small in relation to it. Yet, after feeling uplifted and encouraged by the music, and by undertaking the project once again, we triumph over the feelings that discredited our abilities. We reform ourselves and our sense of identity.

*Read further in my Art post about reformation of the artist in the process of creation.