◔ 5 minutes read
The game-changing benefits of thinking rationally instead of emotionally...
“Life is a comedy to those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.” ―Horace Walpole
Have you noticed those moments when you take a rushed decision and after a few minutes you say to yourself: Why the hell did I do that?
You also have probably had other moments when you have taken the time to make a decision and then told yourself how good that decision was.
Why or when does this happen? Keep reading...
The roots of how we think
The human brain has two main minds: the emotional mind and the rational mind.
The emotional mind it's in charge of the instant reactions to our 6 basic emotions: sadness, happiness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust. The emotional mind came up first in the evolutionary history of the human brain. Why? Because early humans needed instant reactions to survive, their world wasn't as comfy as our world today, and an instant reaction of a second could be the difference between living and dying, between running away and being devoured by a wild beast, among many other basic reactions.
The rational mind developed later, on top of the portion of the brain that belongs to the emotional mind. The rational mind gives us the tool to act more "humanly" and properly, to think and analyze emotional information according to previous memories and experiences in order to take better decisions.
Whenever we experience any emotion, that information takes only 1 second to get to the emotional mind and a few more to get to the rational mind. That's why it's always said to take a few seconds to take a proper decision. Because your first reaction will always be emotional and then rational.
What happens when we think emotionally?
Bad things happen that's for sure. Just kidding, but honestly, not that much.
Thinking emotionally instead of rationally can lead to impulsive decisions, biased thinking, and irrational behavior. It can also cause you to overlook important information, make judgments based on personal feelings rather than objective facts, and act based on emotional reactions rather than careful analysis.
This can lead to negative consequences in personal and professional relationships, as well as in decision-making processes that affect your life and others around you.
Imagine how your day could change if you had made a different decision about that thing you have been racking your brains with all day.
What happens when we think rationally?
I think the advantages of thinking rationally are pretty obvious because we all have experienced both types of thinking in our lives, but anyway, thinking rationally allows us to make better decisions, solve problems effectively, improve communication, have better relationships and reduce stress and anxiety.
Tips for thinking rationally
My top 5:
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Identify and acknowledge your emotions: Recognize when you are experiencing an emotional response and take a moment to acknowledge it.
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Take a step back: Try to distance yourself from the situation and take a break if needed. This can help you gain a clearer perspective and approobjectively approach the situation
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Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness practices can help you become more aware of your thoughts and emotions, and better able to control your reactions.
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Gather information: Take the time to gather all the relevant information and facts about the situation. This can help you make more informed decisions and avoid acting on impulse.
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Consider alternative perspectives: Try to look at the situation from different angles and consider alternative perspectives. This can help you avoid tunnel vision and make more rational decisions.
Conclusion
The benefits of thinking rationally instead of emotionally are clear. By analyzing situations objectively and making informed decisions based on logic and reason, you can improve your problem-solving abilities, communication skills, relationships, and reduce stress and anxiety.
It is important to recognize and acknowledge your emotions, take a step back from the situation, and practice mindfulness to develop the habit of rational thinking.