Is it better to make choices based on logic or emotion?

[Anonymous]

Is it better to make decisions based on what is logically right but unsettles you, or what makes you feel comfortable but realistically has the possibility of making things worse for you emotionally?

Let’s say in the context of whether you should detach from someone or not.

[markml]

It would help to have a bit more context, but this is my thinking on the matter:

You should never completely ignore logic. I have done that a number of times and got burnt.

For instance, if you meet someone who is a heavy drug user, and you don't believe in drugs, it is very logical to presume that this will cause problems down the road if you try to date them. Or if you meet someone who is a known player, it is logical to assume they will try to play you.

At the same time, logic is of limited utility in many situations. Logic can be incorrectly used, leading to false conclusions, if you start by assuming faulty premises. To avoid faulty logic, you need to have friends (preferably of both genders) check your logical reasoning, to see if it makes sense. They may tell you that one of your assumptions could be incorrect, or that you are evaluating a particular risk incorrectly (i. e. assuming something is a 75% risk when it is actually a 5% risk).

But also, beyond logic, sometimes the heart knows something that cannot yet be deduced logically. This is where it gets tricky, because the heart can also definitely be fooled.

So when should you follow your heart even when you can't logically support it?

Well, this is what I think. In the instances where your heart knows something that your mind doesn't yet understand, this will only be for a short period of time.

If your heart strongly feels that something is right, but your mind can't yet justify it, then it may be worthwhile following your heart for a limited amount of time to see where that leads. Understand that you are definitely taking a risk when you do this, so make sure you are willing to accept the consequences if your heart is wrong. But as they say, "No risk, no reward."

It is likely impossible to completely avoid the risk of heartbreak and painful emotions when searching for love. But there's a big a difference between a couple weeks of feeling sad and years of psychotherapy. So you need to do risk assessment. Also, if the risk involves breaking a moral value of yours, then it's probably too high of a price to pay. Stand strong for your principles!

But what's also really important to do, in the instances where you follow your heart rather than logic, is to commit to checking in later to re-evaluate whether you made the right decision. If your heart was right, logic will eventually confirm it.

There is no situation where you heart can be right, but you will never be able to logically prove it was right. Your heart may currently see something your mind cannot, but your mind will eventually see it, if your heart was right.

The situation you want to avoid is one where you blindly follow your heart, making the same dumb choices over and over again.

For instance, say there's someone who your heart tells you to trust, and then they betray your trust. But they try to convince you it won't happen again and you should trust them, and your heart keeps pushing you to do so, only for them to keep betraying your trust. Your heart is fooled because you really want to trust them, but logically you shouldn't.

As they say, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results." That is what you need logic to really help you avoid.

I don't think it's the end of the world if your heart tells you trust someone one time (even though logic says there's a reasonable probability of betrayal). You take a gamble, and maybe you win and maybe you lose. But if you end up losing, don't keep placing the same bet.

Sometimes, it seems a little harsh to only give someone one chance to prove themselves. Especially if you already have a lot of emotions invested in that person. But you should at the very least have a limit on how many chances you'll give, like "Three strikes, you're out." The mind has to set these limits, because the heart cannot. The heart wants to give an infinite number of chances.

[Don-__-Don]

Logic, and if you are ever to make an emotional decision take the logic with you.

[Not_Average]

A combination of both. Purely logical decisions are suited for many situations, but humans are emotional beings.

Right now, it would be a logical decision for me to invest all of my money, but I want a vacation. We can’t just negate our emotional desires in every decision we make. It would be unhealthy.

[SirJeffers]

Your mental health is the most important. A logical and healthy decision may not sit the best with you right now, but looking back later, you'll realize it was the right choice for you.

[william_wizard]

I've always thought a healthy mix of the two was best.

Use your logic for most decisions, but for the big ones, if your instinct is really telling you something you should probably go with it.

[Dbach]

Well logic is always a safe bet but is never a guarantee.


And it’s never good to let your emotions control you.


I think it’s in the middle.

[Aiko_E_Lara]

Logic is more objective and more calculated so it gives better chance but only it takes time. Unless you have to make a quick decision, emotion is better for that case.

[cloud9vortex1234]

I don't know. Are they making your life worse?

[DavidFox]

Logic

[chriscdi]

logic obviously

[grega239]

Logic.