What happens when your heart is saying yes and your head is saying no? The heart can refer to an emotional decision-making, a strong, powerful feeling like love, happiness, anger, hatred, or fear. The head is the rational way to think, or the proper way to make a decision. Which way is the most reliable for making decisions? Together, logic and emotion can make a powerful combination. Together, logical and emotional factors can lead to rational decision-making. Emotion is unconscious mind’s language. The emotions are the first to influence our decision-making process, before logic takes over and rationalizes it. Emotions can be a reaction to perceived or imagined stimuli. Our emotions often overpower our logic in most situations. Imagine walking a length of wood that is placed on the earth. Imagine that you put it 100 feet above the ground between two structures. You’ve done it so many times that you know you can do it. But your fears and emotions overpower logic. You can’t walk the plank because your imagination is stronger than your ability. Emotions are brain shortcuts that generate feelings about certain topics and situations. We live our lives based on our emotions. We think we base our decisions on facts but this is not true. They think they are rational and logical when they agree on a message. When people disagree, however, they act more emotionally. Although we like to imagine that we make rational and logical decisions, the truth is we use a combination of logic and emotion. It is not possible to make decisions based solely on logic. We must also consider our emotions. Logical thinking requires structure. Logic is the language of conscious thought. Information, cognitive limitations and time are factors that affect a person’s ability for rationality. In order to think logically, you need to organize important facts, ideas, and conclusions. Thinking logically involves thinking in steps. The ability to read or see things and build on them without any guidance is due to logical thinking. The basis of human decisions is the accumulation of experiences over a lifetime. People will “trust their instincts”, as their instincts have been shaped by years of experience. Our brains are based on intuitions that have evolved over millions of generations. There is evidence that certain training can improve a person’s logical abilities. The two work in tandem, both independently and together. All brains contain a logical part and an emotional side. Each time you are faced with a difficult decision, your left brain encourages you make the most rational decision. While this happens, your right brain will push you to make the decision that is most in line with your feelings. Most decisions are taken by your right brain, based on emotion. According to studies, 80% are driven by emotion and only 20% are guided by logic. Most often, people make emotional choices when they are tired, hungry, angry, or lonely. This is because these emotions are based on a quick decision, which may have missed important details. Without emotions, humans could not make a rational decision. In order to rationalize a decision made on the basis of emotion, the left side kicks into action. In order to reach rational decisions, logic and emotion must be combined. Emotions are the language that the unconscious uses. Emotions are the instinctive responses based on the feelings of the person. People will often react first with their emotions, but later justify them using logic. Human brains have always used both logic and emotions and this will continue. Emotion and logic are inseparable. Each is equally important, but logic and emotionality are essential in daily life.
