Making Smart Emotional Decisions

We all feel them, because we’re all human.

Sure, an emotion in its pure sense is whatever that emotion is. If I am angry with someone, to the extreme, I am, indeed angry. Though my gut reaction may be to eliminate that person from my life, that may not be the best decision.

Making smart decisions in the face of emotional intensity affects your life greatly, so it’s important to know how to make decisions that will better yourself when you are under emotional pressure.

Have you ever felt such a strong emotion that you acted on it, only to find that the decision was not the best one for you?

When you’re depressed, is it right to then commit suicide? When you’re in love, is it right to jump headfirst into a relationship, or marriage? When you’re mad at someone, is it right to seek revenge?

All these emotions we feel – it’s not wrong to feel them. But how we act on them determines whether we are right or wrong. On that note, what is right and wrong, anyway?

Decisions we make impact our lives, and determine who we are, and the path we take. Therefore, it is important to make decisions based on what is best for us. But when emotions get involved that can be hard.

So if you’re faced with an extreme emotion, it’s important to remember that you can avoid bad emotion-based decision making.

The answer is simpler than you may think.

It involves looking inward, and assessing the situation. For example, what were you like before this emotion raged inside? What did you value before this emotional stage that you seem to have lost sight of? What were the original goals you had for yourself before these emotions came into play?

It’s easy to lose sight of our original intentions when we are wrapped up in an array of emotions. What we must do then, is try to remove ourselves from the situation, at least mentally, to see what we are doing, and if it fits in to our long-term plans. One way is to turn inward, and question yourself. Another is to depend on a friend to give you advice, before you act on an emotion.

See what else is out there, explore your options. If you’re angry with a friend, you may want to spend time away from that person, or take time to think about what you value in your relationship with that person. Instead of blurting out, “I never want to talk to you again!” think about what you truly want.

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