One of our creative writing assignments was to describe an emotion--joy, anger, envy, wonder, sadness, etc.--without using the word or any of its synonyms in the essay.  The objective was NOT to vent some supressed feelings.  The objective was to stir that emotion in the reader. 

One of the interesting by-products of the assignment was all of us had to analyze exactly what it was that produced that emotion in us.  What events make you happy?  What contexts scare the crap out of you?  When do you find someone enviable?  What makes your blood boil?  When do you dissolve into tears?

To produce the emotion in others, you have to find those triggers.  It was a difficult assignment--the most difficult for me.  I didn't do so well.  I guess I need more practice at manipulation of emotions.