Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’ve acted impulsively and later regretted it? It’s a common experience. We often wonder why we made certain decisions or behaved in a particular way. The truth is, in those moments, we weren’t thinking. We let fleeting emotions dictate our actions without considering the consequences. But within each of us lies a powerful tool—our intelligence. The guiding force can lead us to make wiser choices and navigate life’s challenges with clarity and purpose. The key is to learn to trust and rely on our intelligence, allowing it to take the helm and steer us in the right direction.
“For to be wise is only one thing—to fix our attention on our intelligence, which guides all things everywhere.”
—HERACLITUS, QUOTED IN DIOGENES LAERTIUS, LIVES OF THE EMINENT PHILOSOPHERS, 9.1
Why Did I Do That?
We’ve all had those moments when, after a decision or action, we find ourselves in bewilderment, asking, “Why did I do that?” It’s an unsettling feeling, one that can invoke frustration and self-reproach. This self-questioning often follows actions that defy our usual behavior or judgment standards. You might wonder how you could have acted so impulsively or without foresight.
Reflecting on such questions reveals an inherent truth: our decision-making can sometimes operate on autopilot. This often happens when we’re not fully engaged with our rational faculties. For instance, when you’re stressed or tired, your decision-making can be compromised, leading to choices you might regret later. This reaction isn’t necessarily a failure of intelligence but rather a manifestation of how easily emotions and immediate stimuli can override our more considered thought processes.
Understanding this phenomenon involves recognizing that while our intelligence is always present, it isn’t always actively engaged. During these moments, our cognitive processes might be overshadowed by immediate emotional reactions or physical sensations, leading us to act in ways that seem puzzling in hindsight.
The Missing Element: Rational Thought
Rational thought is a crucial component of effective decision-making, acting as a guiding force that helps us evaluate situations, weigh alternatives, and choose the most logical course of action. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that rational thought is consistently applied rather than being overshadowed by more impulsive responses.
Consider how decisions are often made in the heat of the moment. When confronted with a stressful situation, anger, anxiety, or excitement can cloud judgment and lead to snap decisions. These emotional responses can divert attention away from a rational evaluation of the situation, leading to choices that may not align with long-term goals or values.
Rational thought requires a deliberate and reflective approach, where you actively analyze the pros and cons of different options. This process involves a quick mental scan and a thorough consideration of potential outcomes and their alignment with your overall objectives. The difficulty often lies in training ourselves to pause and prioritize this rational evaluation over immediate emotional reactions.
The Power of Intelligence Over Emotions
Emotions are a fundamental part of the human experience, providing valuable insights into our needs and desires. However, when it comes to decision-making, emotions can sometimes lead us astray. Immediate feelings such as fear, excitement, or frustration can create a skewed perspective, pushing us to make decisions based on short-term gratification rather than long-term benefit.
Physical sensations and hormonal fluctuations also significantly influence our choices. For example, feeling hungry or fatigued can impact our ability to think clearly and make reasoned decisions. These physiological states can create a sense of urgency or discomfort that may lead us to act impulsively.
To harness the power of intelligence, it’s essential to recognize these emotional and physical influences and learn to manage them effectively. This involves acknowledging your feelings and bodily sensations without letting them dominate your decision-making process. Instead, you should allow your rational mind to take the lead, ensuring that your decisions are informed by thoughtful consideration rather than immediate emotional responses.
Cultivating Mindful Decision-Making
Mindful decision-making is about adopting a deliberate and reflective approach to choices. It requires pausing to consider your options carefully before taking action, rather than reacting impulsively. This process involves being fully present at the moment and aware of how your emotions and physical states may be influencing your decision-making.
To cultivate mindful decision-making, start by creating a habit of reflection. Before deciding, take a moment to assess your current emotional state and any physical sensations you may be experiencing. Ask yourself: “What is driving my current response?” and “How might this decision impact my long-term goals?”
Incorporating mindfulness into your decision-making process also means recognizing and addressing biases affecting your judgment. For instance, confirmation bias might lead you to favor information supporting your beliefs, while overconfidence could skew your assessment of risks and benefits. By remaining mindful of these factors, you can ensure a more balanced and rational approach to decision-making.
Empowering Your Mind
Empowering your mind involves prioritizing rational thought over immediate emotions and physical sensations. It’s about trusting your cognitive abilities and allowing them to guide your decisions. This empowerment requires a proactive approach to decision-making, where you actively engage your intelligence rather than letting it passively observe.
To empower your mind, develop practices that enhance your cognitive clarity. This might include techniques such as journaling to clarify your thoughts, setting aside time for decision-making, and practicing stress management to maintain a calm and focused mindset. Additionally, seek feedback from trusted sources to gain different perspectives and refine your decision-making process.
By focusing on empowering your mind, you align your decisions with your long-term objectives and values. This approach enhances the quality of your choices and builds confidence in your ability to navigate complex situations effectively. Embrace the wisdom of allowing your rational faculties to lead, and you’ll find a greater sense of control and direction in your actions.
Daily Stoic Meditation: How Can I Do a Better Job Listening to the Little Voice Inside Me?
Many times, I find myself thinking of all the things I could have said during an argument in which I didn’t have anything to say. All the comebacks, retorts, and answers come to mind after everything has gone down and it doesn’t matter anymore.
When I make a mistake, I often criticize myself for being stupid and careless. What could I have done differently? What can I do better next time? What’s going to happen now? What was I thinking? All these thoughts run amok in my brain. I sought therapy, where I had an important realization.
You can’t let your emotions dictate your actions and run your life. Your logical mind needs to be in charge. That’s how it should work, but it doesn’t always work that way.
Your mind is like a car with two passengers: your logical mind and your emotional mind. Your logical mind is responsible for navigation, while your emotional mind is behind the steering wheel. The problem is that the driver doesn’t always listen to the navigator about where we should go. Part of growing up is learning how to get the car’s driver to listen to the navigator’s instructions.
It comes down to making the right decision based on what logic dictates as the intelligent option. You can’t let your emotions get the better of you. A simple example is not giving in to laziness when the alarm clock rings and going for a run daily because that’s the right thing to do for your body.
Choosing intelligence over emotions requires mindful decision-making. Whenever you are tempted to choose the easier option, hold for a moment and consider both options. Choose the right one and not the easy one. This decision needs to be deliberate.
Conclusion
In a world filled with distractions and temptations, losing sight of our inner wisdom is easy. However, by heeding the words of Heraclitus and focusing our attention on our intelligence, we can reclaim control over our lives. Let us strive to think before we act, harnessing the power of our rational minds to guide us on the path to wisdom and fulfillment. With each decision, may we embrace the opportunity to tap into our intelligence and navigate life’s journey with clarity, purpose, and unwavering resolve.
This article is a part of The Daily Stoic Meditations Series based on Ryan Holiday’s book.