Intense Emotions & Our Decisions
Emotions certainly play an important role in our decision-making process. Anxiety, for example, can keep you from making a poor choice; boredom can ignite a spark that leads you to follow your passion, your northern star, or to a decision of regret. An empathetic experience may produce emotional or spiritual clarity - an ‘Aha Moment’
A Missouri pastor and author recently tweeted: “When I begin to feel pessimistic, I remember that the world will be saved because God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world. This is not an excuse for irresponsibility or apathy, but an invitation to cooperate with the Savior of the world”.
I’m reminded of a couple verses from Proverbs where intense emotions can lead to either super-heady moments of lucidity or foolhardy decisions: “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go. He's the One who will keep you on track."
Thank God we’re not Vulcanians. Vulcans are purely logical - they don’t let fluffy stuff like emotions get in the way of making coolly rational choices. Our emotions, birthed by the Eternal, are essential to making circumspect decisions, like the importance of being honest and vulnerable. This allows us to read our emotions and to stay in balance. Owning our emotions during these tumultuous times is essential for maintaining our spiritual formation and our mental health…
