Using emotions to make decisions

(basically we just rationalize doing what we feel). Plus, a mirror universe and an interview with My Sweet Dumb Brain this week

Preface: I have a problem with overthinking. There are some big decisions that have been keeping me up at night. Last week, I talked about taking comfort in the concept of fate when faced with uncertainty. This week, I want to make a case for the merits of emotionally based decision-making. Hear me out…

I have been raised in a culture that values rational decision-making over emotional/feeling decision-making. “You are too emotional.” “Don’t make decisions based on your emotions.” OR “You are too emotional to act on anything…” Has anyone ever told you that? I know I have heard it many times.

The concepts of Emotional Thinking vs Rational Thinking have been around for a while. Our current understanding of rationality perhaps stems from rational choice theory as defined by Adam Smith. It is the idea that we are all performing mini cost–benefit scenarios in our heads before every decision (mixed with Descartes’ insistence that the body, emotions, and rationale are all separate entities). In Descartes’ Second Meditation he ruminates on the idea that his existence is based on being a thinking being. Thoughts are where reality exists. That feels true, somewhat.

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I have been mulling over moving to a different city. That is what is keeping me up at night.