We make a lot of decisions in our lives, from what we want to eat to whether or not we would like to marry someone. No two decisions we make will be the same. One thing that is true EVERY time is that making emotional decisions can have pitfalls!
There are two component pieces that tie into decision-making that you need to be aware of:
1. Excitement
2. Reason
Take a moment and consider how many times you really make a decision without at least one of these core pieces involved… I bet that number is very small!
This is because we don’t make any decisions without some sort of rationale. It’s important to balance these two pieces in order to make the best decisions. If you only ever think reasonably then you aren’t likely to have a lot of fun and enjoyment. Everything becomes a logical transaction. And life doesn’t work that way!
On the other hand, if you only act on excitement, life may be a lot of fun but not sustainable. This means that you have maximum pleasure without any before or afterthoughts.
The best way to make a decision is to find a balance between excitement and reason. This means you gotta get outta autopilot and make your choices conscious. If you really want that new board game then that’s awesome, don’t ignore the urge. But if you don’t have enough funds for it then you might want to reconsider. Putting a board game on your table isn’t nearly as pressing as, you know, putting food on your table.
In order to make good decisions, we have to be really honest with ourselves and know when we can take the jump and when we shouldn’t. It’s gonna be different for each and every one of us, as some of you may be more reason-based while others are more excitement-based. So the next time you are in a position where you start to make a choice “on autopilot,” stop and walk yourself through it. Notice your tendencies for making emotional decisions and make a better, more balanced choice!
Read more about how your emotions can affect decision making in this article from Psychology Today.
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