Much is said about the relationship between reason X emotion, but how can we balance them? How do you know when it’s time to let one or the other stand out and speak louder? These are common questions and don’t have simple answers. Each individual is learning and finding within himself ways to find this balance.
Anyway, there are certain types of attitudes that can help in this process. And that’s exactly what we’ll talk about throughout the article. Read on to better understand how reason and emotion work and thus discover how to balance them within yourself.
Reason X Emotion: how important is it to seek balance?
Finding the balance between reason and emotion is fundamental to living lightly and making good decisions. Without this, you run the risk of acting in an untimely manner, letting your emotions stand out, or being too rational, not enjoying the greatness of your feelings.
When a balance is found between the rational and emotional sides, it is easier to make decisions with greater chances of success. Remembering that there is no guarantee that what you want will happen, however, the fact of thinking in a balanced way will make the positive odds increase.
In a professional situation, for example, it is interesting that reason stands out, as it will need to consider the possibilities and choose the one that brings the best results. In a dangerous circumstance, however, it is the emotion that will provide you with the resources you need to act quickly and protect yourself.
7 Tips for Balancing Reason and Emotion
Now that you understand the importance of balancing reason and emotion, check out some tips that can help you balance them. It is worth remembering that this is an ongoing process and that the results will not appear overnight. So go ahead and learn from each experience.
1. Recognize your emotions
First, it is important that you learn to recognize your emotions. It seems obvious to know when you are happy, sad, angry or anxious, but the truth is that not everyone is aware of the emotional states they are in. Watch yourself and check if this is your case, if it is, know that it’s all a matter of training.
2. Avoid making decisions when under strong emotion
There is a very popular piece of advice that says we shouldn’t promise anything when we’re very happy. And really, this thought is well-founded because, when we are overwhelmed by euphoria, we tend to see things differently than usual. Therefore, as much as possible avoid making important choices when you are too happy, sad, angry, prefer to wait to calmly reflect on it.
3. Make lists of the pros, cons and risks of a decision
If you need to make an important decision, make a list separating the pros, cons and risks. Thus, you will be able to have a clearer view of the possible scenarios and choose the one that seems most interesting. Trust me, jotting down these points makes it much simpler than just letting thoughts flow about it.
4. Find ways to manage emotions
In the first tip we talked about the importance of recognizing your emotions. From the moment you manage to do this, you will be able to use ways to manage them. While each individual has their own resources, overall, there are some activities that work for everyone.
Physical activity is great for relieving anger and stress. As well as breathing exercises and manual activities, which require attention, help to control anxiety, in addition, the development of Emotional Intelligence can be another extremely valuable resource in this regard. Try some options and choose those you will use in times of need.
5. Write about what you’re feeling
Therapeutic writing is a very positive activity, which can be of great help in finding a balance between reason and emotion. You can keep a journal in which you will write down what you are feeling. But do this without judgment, both of content and writing. Remember that the idea is just to put ideas down on paper, so don’t worry about perfection.
6. Understand your behaviour and thinking patterns
Every individual has patterns of behaviour and thoughts that have been created throughout their lifetime. Education, genetic propensity and culture are the main factors influencing how we react to emotions. Understanding these patterns will give you a broader view of who you are.
Here it is also worth keeping records with the information you identify. They will help you understand yourself and create a true map of how emotions manifest in your behaviour.
7. Find a happy medium between reason and emotion
In the end, the best thing to do is always look for a happy medium. Thus, you will be able to enjoy the best that reason and emotion can provide. To understand better, look at the following example: you receive a job offer at another company, if you just think rationally, you will focus on salary and benefits offered.
But, does this matter only to make this decision? It’s also important to consider the emotional side, wondering how you would feel emotionally about this job change. Thus, putting both sides in the balance, you will be able to make the best choice according to what you believe and want for yourself.
Your life is yours, as are your decisions, but this freedom has its price, which are the risks. So enjoy your independence and always keep an eye on reason and emotion to make sure none of them are pushing the envelope.
