Emotional Reasoning- The Cognitive Distortion that makes you Emotionally Reactive - Anxiety 18/30

Therapy in a Nutshell2 minutes read

When making major decisions like buying a house, it's crucial to combat emotional reasoning by pausing, analyzing past experiences, and exploring alternatives, as emotions can often be inaccurate indicators of the right choice. By incorporating emotional intelligence and separating choices from thoughts and feelings, individuals can make constructive decisions aligned with personal values, leading to intentional living and happiness.

Insights

  • Emotions can cloud judgment, leading to emotional reasoning where decisions are based on feelings rather than facts, highlighting the importance of pausing between stimulus and response to make more rational choices.
  • Emotional intelligence involves integrating emotions, logic, and past experiences to make decisions that align with personal values, emphasizing the need to observe, explore alternatives, and act intentionally rather than react impulsively based on emotions.

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Recent questions

  • What is emotional reasoning?

    Emotional reasoning is when one believes something is true simply because it feels true, relying on emotions as evidence rather than logic. It involves using emotions as the sole basis for determining the truth of a situation, which can often lead to inaccurate conclusions.

  • How can one combat emotional reasoning?

    To combat emotional reasoning, one must learn to slow down, pause between stimulus and response, and practice opposite actions to change thoughts and feelings. By recognizing when emotional reasoning is at play, individuals can take steps to challenge their emotions, consider alternative perspectives, and make decisions based on logic rather than solely on feelings.

  • What is the difference between emotions and intuition?

    Emotions are quick, imprecise reactions in the brain and body, often influenced by external factors, while intuition is a quiet sense of confidence and drive toward action based on subconscious knowledge. Emotions are more immediate and can be influenced by various factors, whereas intuition is a deeper, instinctual feeling that guides individuals towards certain actions or decisions.

  • How can one improve emotional processing?

    Improving emotional processing involves observing emotions, exploring alternatives, clarifying choices based on values, and acting accordingly, rather than reacting impulsively based on emotions. By taking the time to understand and analyze emotions, individuals can make more informed decisions that align with their values and goals.

  • What is emotional intelligence?

    Emotional intelligence involves incorporating emotions, logic, and experience to make decisions aligned with personal values, enabling individuals to live intentionally and choose paths that lead to happiness by separating choices from thoughts and feelings. It allows individuals to navigate complex emotional situations, make thoughtful decisions, and cultivate meaningful relationships based on understanding and managing emotions effectively.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Navigating Emotional Reasoning in Decision Making

  • The speaker shares a personal experience of buying a new house after careful consideration and saving.
  • Despite feeling anxious after putting in an offer due to high market prices and mortgage rates, the speaker recognized the anxiety as a normal reaction.
  • The speaker requested daily reminders from their realtor to combat emotional reasoning and remind themselves that buying the house was an investment.
  • Emotions can often be misleading, powerful motivators, but not always accurate indicators of the right decision.
  • Emotional reasoning is when one believes something is true simply because it feels true, relying on emotions as evidence rather than logic.
  • Emotions are quick, imprecise reactions in the brain and body, serving a function to keep us alive but can often be inaccurate.
  • Intuition, different from emotions, is a quiet sense of confidence and drive toward action based on subconscious knowledge.
  • To combat emotional reasoning, one must learn to slow down, pause between stimulus and response, and practice opposite actions to change thoughts and feelings.
  • Predicting emotional triggers and having a plan to handle them, as well as analyzing past emotionally reactive experiences, can help in being less emotionally reactive.
  • Emotion processing involves observing, exploring alternatives, clarifying choices based on values, and acting accordingly, rather than reacting impulsively based on emotions.

12:58

Overcoming Emotional Reasoning for Constructive Decision-Making

  • Anger can often lead us to believe we are being mistreated or attacked, causing us to act out based on emotional reasoning rather than objective evaluation. For instance, Alex feels betrayed and angry when a co-worker gets a promotion over them, assuming it's due to unfairness or manipulation, but by observing, exploring the situation objectively, and determining helpful actions, one can overcome emotional reasoning and make constructive choices.
  • Emotional intelligence involves incorporating emotions, logic, and experience to make decisions aligned with personal values, enabling individuals to live intentionally and choose paths that lead to happiness by separating choices from thoughts and feelings.
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