The Purpose of Emotions: Your Inner Guide to Decisions

Your feelings are actually trying to help you succeed

Ever wonder why we have emotions at all? If you're a busy professional, you might think emotions get in the way. They make us say things we regret in meetings. They keep us up at night worrying about deadlines. They make us avoid tough conversations we need to have.

But what if emotions aren't the problem? What if they're actually trying to help us?

The Real Purpose of Emotions

Emotions serve three main purposes. Their correct use can make you a better leader, decision-maker, and person:

1. They help you make tough decisions 

2. They help you learn faster 

3. They warn you when something needs attention

Let's break down each one.

Decision-Making: When Logic Isn't Enough

Think about the hardest decision you made this year. Chances are, logic only got you so far.

Steven Pinker, a famous brain scientist, explains it this way. Imagine you're dying of thirst AND dying of hunger. You see food and water the same distance away. Logic can't tell you which one to pick first. But emotion can. Your gut feeling pushes you toward water because your body knows that will help fastest.

When Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, the company was almost dead. Logic said they needed to make lots of different products to compete. But Jobs felt something different. He cut Apple's product line from dozens down to four. That emotional gut feeling about focus saved the company.

The point? Emotions push us to act when thinking alone isn't enough.

Try This Exercise: Next time you face a tough choice at work, try this:

1. List the logical pros and cons

2. Sit for two minutes

3. Ask yourself: "What does my gut say?"

4. Notice which option makes you feel more energized

5. Use both logic AND emotion to decide

   
   

Learning: Why Strong Feelings Stick

Have you ever noticed that you remember emotional moments better than regular ones? There's a reason for that.

Jordan Peterson, a well-known psychology professor, says emotions are like learning boosters. When something makes you angry or happy, your brain pays extra attention. You learn the lesson deeper and faster.

After the 2008 crisis, bank leaders felt shame about their decisions. That strong emotion drove them to completely change how they think about risk. The banks that learned from those feelings became stronger. The ones that ignored the emotions kept making the same mistakes.

Try This Learning Routine:

• End of each week: Write down one thing that made you angry or frustrated at work

• Ask yourself: What is this emotion trying to teach me?

• Make a plan: What will you do different next time?

• Check back: Did the same problem happen again?

When you feel strong emotions about work situations, lean in. Don't run away. Those feelings are trying to teach you something important.

Warning System: Your Inner Alarm

Dr. John Deloney, a mental health expert, says emotions work like smoke alarms. They're not there to annoy you. They're there to warn you about fires before they burn your house down.

Feeling anxious before a big presentation? That's not weakness. That's your alarm saying "prepare more." Feeling angry at your boss? That's not being difficult. That's your alarm saying "this relationship needs work."

Before World War II, Winston Churchill worried about Germany's growing power. Other leaders called him paranoid. But Churchill's emotional alarm was right. His anxiety drove him to prepare Britain for war. That preparation helped save the country.

The Daily Alarm Check: Every morning, ask yourself:

• What am I feeling anxious about today?

• What is that anxiety trying to tell me?

• What one small action can I take to address it?

What Emotions DON'T Do

Here's the key thing to remember: emotions don't tell you the absolute truth. They tell you to dig deeper and find the truth.

If you feel scared of a coworker, that doesn't mean they're dangerous. It means your relationship with them needs attention. You need to have a conversation. Or you need to set better boundaries. Sometimes you need to understand them better.

If you feel angry about a project failing, that doesn't mean someone is evil. It means you need to look at what went wrong and make a plan so it doesn't happen again.

The Professional's Guide to Using Emotions

Morning Emotion Check (5 minutes):

1. Name three emotions you're feeling right now

2. For each one, ask: "What might this be trying to tell me?"

3. Pick one small action to address what you learned

Weekly Emotion Review (15 minutes):

1. What made you feel strongest this week?

2. What patterns do you see in your emotional reactions?

3. What do these patterns teach you about what you value?

4. How can you use this knowledge next week?

The Quarterly Emotional Audit (30 minutes):

1. What situations trigger strong emotions?

2. What are these emotions trying to protect or achieve?

3. How can you plan better to handle these situations?

4. What would change if you listened to these emotions more often?

   
   

Real-World Applications

In Meetings: If you feel frustrated, ask yourself what the emotion is pointing to. Poor preparation? Unclear goals? People not listening? Use that information to improve future meetings.

With Difficult People: If someone makes you angry, don't avoid them. Ask what your anger is trying to tell you. Then set boundaries or have tough conversations.

During Big Decisions: Don't ignore gut feelings. They often catch things your logical mind missed. But don't follow emotions without questions either. Use them as extra information.

The Bottom Line

The purpose of emotions isn't to control you or make your life harder. They're your internal guidance system. They're trying to help you:

• Make better decisions when logic isn't enough

• Learn important lessons faster and deeper

• Pay attention to problems before they become crises

Stop trying to shut off your emotions. Start learning to listen to what they're trying to tell you. Your career, your relationships, and your peace of mind will all improve when you do.

Remember: emotions aren't the enemy of professional success. When used correctly, they're one of your most powerful tools for achieving it.