“Bad” is a blurry word. Disappointed, embarrassed, left out, nervous: the precise name tells you what to do next.

Feelings arrive as one lump until you sort them, and a lump gives you nothing to act on. Disappointment asks for something different from embarrassment, and being left out asks for something different again. The vague word is not wrong, it is just too coarse to be useful.

Next time the word bad shows up, spend thirty seconds looking for a more exact one. Try a few until one fits and something settles slightly. The precise name usually arrives with an instruction attached, which is the whole reason to go looking for it.