Your Emotions Aren't the Problem. Ignoring Them Is.

Imagine facing a choice where every option seems equally good, yet you struggle to make a decision. You analyze every detail, weigh every pro and con, but you remain stuck, unable to act. This is not just a frustrating experience—it reflects a deeper truth about how our minds work. Research on patients with brain damage in areas responsible for processing emotions reveals a striking fact: these individuals can think through every logical angle perfectly, but they cannot make decisions. Their problem is not a lack of reason but a lack of emotion.

This paradox challenges the common belief that rationality means being purely logical and emotionless. In reality, emotions are essential to making good decisions. They help us form preferences, respond quickly to danger, focus on what matters, and commit beyond self-interest. Ignoring emotions does not make us more rational; it makes us less capable of deciding well.

What Happens When Emotions Are Missing

Studies of patients with damage to emotion-processing brain regions, such as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, show that these individuals can analyze situations logically but struggle to choose. Their minds become trapped in endless deliberation, or the non-technical term: analysis paralysis. This condition highlights what emotions contribute to decision making:

• Forming Preferences

Without emotions, all options appear equally good or bad. Emotions help us assign value and create preferences, guiding us toward choices that feel right.

• Rapid Response to Danger

When faced with threats, emotions trigger quick reactions. Without them, people get stuck analyzing risks instead of acting to protect themselves.

• Focus on What Matters

Emotions highlight moral implications and potential regrets. They help us prioritize decisions that align with our values and long-term well-being.

• Commitment Beyond Self-Interest

Emotions foster trust and loyalty. Without them, people become less reliable and less willing to commit to others or causes beyond their immediate benefit.

Why Rationality Requires Emotions

Rationality is often misunderstood as cold logic, but true rationality means forming appropriate emotions. For example, fearing real danger is rational because it protects us. Valuing what truly matters helps us make decisions that benefit ourselves and others in the long run. Trying to be purely logical removes the emotional compass that guides us.

How to Use Emotions Wisely in Decisions

Emotions are not infallible. I like to think of the saying that "Emotions are always real, but they are not always true!" They are data that must be analyzed just like other data that goes into decision making. They can mislead us when based on biases or misinformation. The key is to form appropriate emotions by:

• Recognizing Real Risks

Fear should focus on actual dangers, not imagined ones.

• Valuing What Matters

Identify your core values and let emotions highlight choices aligned with them.

• Balancing Emotion and Logic

Use emotions to prioritize and motivate, and logic to analyze details and consequences.

• Reflecting on Past Decisions

Learn from regrets and successes to fine-tune emotional responses.

The Cost of Ignoring Emotions

Ignoring emotions can lead to paralysis by analysis, poor prioritization, and decisions that feel wrong despite looking perfect on paper. Many people have experienced making a choice that seemed logical but felt off. Often, their emotions were signaling something important that pure logic missed.

Final Thoughts

Emotions are not obstacles to rational decision making. They are essential tools that help us navigate complex choices. They allow us to form preferences, respond quickly to threats, focus on what truly matters, and commit beyond self-interest.

Next time you face a tough decision, pay attention to your emotions. They are your compass, guiding you through uncertainty and helping you act with clarity and confidence.

Source: Pfister, H-R., & Böhm, G. (2008). The multiplicity of emotions: A model of emotional functions in decision making. Cognition & Emotion, 22(8). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1930297500000127