Many times you will hear someone telling you when you get
into an argument that “Don’t get emotional”. So you ask yourself that what is
the line that separates being rational from being emotional. Yet the truth of
the matter is that all that we do is to satisfy our sentiments.
All choices are emotional choices, from the choice of a
spouse to the choice of a career. Otherwise all of us would be satisfied with
our jobs. We would not need big houses, we would be satisfied with simple jobs
and life would not have pleasures.
Emotions cannot be ignored when considering the development
of the civilization we see. Emotions drive beauty and most of the human wants
are but impulses propelled by emotions. Without emotions there would
fundamentally be no need for reason. Simply let us say it would be rational to
walk along equatorial coast lines at noon naked and be heavily clothed in
colder places. Yet when we come to a decision to put on a particular clothe we
think of our appearance before people sometimes even before our comfort. Critically
evaluating this, should we not consider comfort only?
Reason is essentially a tool to help us achieve our
emotional needs. Emotions determine our mental, physical and social well being which caring for is very important. These emotions
give us our variety and all we value as human being.
Basically, there is no reason without emotions. The apes
prove more intelligent than other animals just because they relate more closely
to human emotions. It is probable that our emotions make us as intelligent as
we are.
It is important to know that decisions are basically choices
to make to meet emotional need of the people on the basis of cost and benefit. The
cost of each decision is weighed depending on the extent of emotional suffering
of self and the people around.
Wise businesses look into the emotional use as the rational
use of their products. Successes in most businesses through history depended
heavily on emotions just as today. I am inclined to believe that emotions have
always been the drivers of socioeconomic changes.
Emotions cannot be switched on and off at
will. We have to learn to deal with them since they are as
dangerous as they are important. They can
easily get out of hand and impair our decision resulting into a long time of
regret.
Being emotional yet rational
It is important that we come to terms that all our choices,
big and small will be emotional. In understanding that fact we ought to conduct
our personal emotional evaluation and find out when they are not being helpful.
Master the art of delayed gratification, and choice of
gratification. You have to understand the value you will get from the choice
you make and the emotional consequences that choice will have. Consider the
duration the consequence will take.
Understand that all our decisions will always give us satisfaction
for a moment, doubt or regret. So the only conclusive truth I will tell you is
this. There are as many outcomes for all emotions as there are people on earth.
These emotions and responses change more frequently than we sometimes can
explain. They are more complex than anything you can ever imagine, but you have
to learn and tame this wild stallion and ride on it to the highest mountain of
satisfaction it can take you.
There is no one perfect way guide of dealing with emotions, but you have to find a way to deal with your own horse and ride.
