✨ Emotional Reasoning: "If I Feel It, It's True" ✨

Emotional reasoning is a thought pattern where we believe that our feelings reflect the objective reality of situations. In other words, if we feel something, we assume that emotion is a reflection of the truth. This type of thinking can lead us to make false conclusions and interpret reality in a distorted way, as emotions are not always based on concrete facts.

What is Emotional Reasoning? 🤔

Emotional reasoning happens when we allow our emotions to guide our perception of the facts. For example, if we feel sad or anxious about something, we might think that our sadness or anxiety reflects the truth of that situation, when in reality, our emotions might stem from our personal interpretations, fears, or insecurities. 🌀

This thought pattern can cause us to make impulsive decisions, act reactively, and lose an objective perspective on situations, as we are interpreting everything through the filter of our emotions, without considering other factors or the actual evidence.

Common Cases of Emotional Reasoning 🚫

1. In Personal Relationships 💔:
   If we feel jealous or insecure in a relationship, we might think those emotions mean the other person doesn’t love us or is hiding something. However, feelings of jealousy or insecurity don’t always reflect the truth, as they might be based on our own insecurities, not concrete facts.

2. In the Workplace 💼:
   If we feel anxious or incapable of handling a project, we might think that we’re not competent or that we’ll fail. But these feelings might not align with our actual ability, and are simply the result of stress or pressure at the moment, not the true nature of our skills.

3. In Personal Health 🏥:
   If we experience an unusual pain or symptom, we might think, "It must be something serious," or "I’m really sick with something terrible." This generates unnecessary anxiety and leads us to worry about things that, in most cases, are not serious.

4. In Self-Image 👀:
   If we feel insecure about our appearance, we might think that others see us the same way. However, our feelings do not always reflect reality; how we feel isn’t necessarily how others perceive us, or how things objectively are.

Why is Emotional Reasoning Harmful? 🚨

Emotional reasoning can lead us to interpret situations in a biased and distorted way, making us base decisions on feelings, not facts. 😣 This not only increases our anxiety but also prevents us from enjoying life as it is. Instead of approaching situations with a balanced, open mindset, we focus only on possible negative outcomes, which distorts our perception of reality.

Moreover, emotional reasoning can harm our self-esteem, as we might think that our emotions are the only truth, ignoring other perspectives or the actual evidence. This limits our ability to make rational decisions and manage our emotions in a balanced way.

How to Differentiate Between Emotions and Facts 💡

1. Recognize the Emotion Before Acting 🧠:
   The first step is to identify when you’re experiencing an intense emotion. Instead of acting immediately, take a moment to reflect: "I’m feeling this way, but is this really a reflection of the situation? Is my emotion objective or influenced by my own fears or insecurities?"

2. Challenge the Emotional Belief 🔍:
   Once you identify the emotion, ask yourself: "Is this a fact or an interpretation based on my feelings?" For example, if you feel rejected by someone, ask yourself, "Are there objective proofs that support this feeling, or is it just something I’m experiencing?" This helps you separate the emotion from reality.

3. Practice Objectivity ⚖️:
   Make a conscious effort to view situations from a more objective perspective. If you’re feeling anxious about a work project, make a list of facts: "I’ve successfully completed projects before," "I have the necessary skills," etc. This helps you see the situation more clearly.

4. Accept the Emotion Without Letting It Control Your Decisions 💙:
   Emotions are natural and part of the human experience. However, they don’t need to dictate our actions. Accept the emotion without judgment, but remember that it isn’t always a reflection of the truth.

5. Use External Validation 💬:
   If you’re unsure whether your emotion reflects reality, talk to someone you trust. Sometimes, hearing an outside perspective can help clarify things and separate your emotions from the facts.

Final Considerations 🌟

Emotional reasoning is a trap where we interpret our emotions as facts. However, by learning to recognize the difference between what we feel and what is actually happening, we can make more rational and balanced decisions. Emotions are an important part of the human experience, but they are not always an accurate representation of reality. By separating emotions from facts, we can better manage our emotions and have a clearer and more objective view of our situations.

With love,
Dr. Arturo José Sánchez Hernández
Your friend in promoting health 💙
Discover more of my works at: https://books2read.com/asanchez