Why do we allow emotion to override common sense?
We are faced with decisions daily. Life is filled with moments of choices. We are given time to live, and how we use our time is a choice. We can use it constructively or not. We can recognise its value and spend it wisely building relationships and enhance the personal connections we have as well as make new ones or just waste it selfishly focusing on ourselves. The choice is often ours in make decisions for better or for worse.
The issue that often arises with many decisions is the emotional effect that is created by our perceptions. Often a logical answer exists which is clear and is seen as correct according to common sense. However our feelings tend to create a Grey area filled with “what if’s”. This in turn opens up the window of fear and doubt creating internal conflict which leads to frustrstion and indecision. While some decisions are major decisions and need external input and clarification from others as well as time to assess all the details. There are also basic decisions that commom sense will let us know what the answer is and the action to take.
Maturity plays a part in the decision making process. The person who grew up having their parents input on everything or needing the approval of friends before making a decision can often find themselves stuck being indecisive because they did not mature to the level of trusting their own initiative and common sense. Stuck waiting on someone elses approval or worrying about what other people may say or think “if” you were to actually make a decision on your own can be daunting. The idea of wondering what people are going to say…that alone can paralyze one to remain indecisive and cloud their better judgment and common sense. The fear of being critized and ridiculed is a sure boulder blocking the road of decision making.
It is great when we have sources to turn to for guidance in making a decision. For council is often needed especially when a decision will clearly be affecting others. Im not implying that decisions regarding self are not in need of council as well. For it does. Especially if the individual desires to make empowering decisions in creating a better life. But all decisions are not created equal. This inequality varies in conjunction with the individuals perspective, self image and past programming. Decisions that may seem clear cut and easy to make by one person may be interpreted drastically different by another. Same decision, different mindset – mental tools. The agony created internally over the deliberation of some decisions can cause serious side effects in ones life. Such effects are like insomnia, irritability, pessimism, loss of common sense, decreased self-esteem and others.
So how does one get through this turmoil of indecision and reaffirm their self confidence and trust their better judgement – common sense without allowing fear to take control of their emotions and keep them stuck or making the dumbest decision of their lives? One sure way is to weight the options through the eyes of pain or pleasure. Will the decision being considered lead to more pain or pleasure? If it will inevitably be directed towards a painful result then we should be able make the right decision which would lead to pleasure. These two factors can be great tools in assessing oir deliberations about the decision process.
RCWEALTH 