Throughout life, we are constantly confronted with choices. And of these choices, we make our decisions based on emotion and fact. Every decision we make is likely to be influenced by both factors.
Take dessert, for example: after dinner you may want dessert (emotion) but you may know that it is not healthy (fact). Your decision to purchase a dessert or pass entirely is based upon either of those two feelings.
Other times, emotion and fact don’t disagree, for example: You need a job. A company has offered you a job and you are planning to take it because (a) you need a job (fact) and (b) you think the job will be fun (emotion). It seems to be the best of both worlds.
But mainly what I have been considering is how knowledge limits our impulse. It’s like the time you were in Best Buy looking at the plasma screens, and you wanted to buy one (emotion), but you knew that you could not afford it (fact). Or (for the girls out there) you were looking at some outfit, but you knew that it you could not afford it at the time. Your knowledge of your situation impeded you from making a poor choice.
It could be a relationship: your emotions could tell you to date someone, but your mind tells you not too. Your impulse to date is being confronted by reality and certain knowledge. Or making comments: I have something very funny to say, but I just don’t think it’s a good idea to say it. Or traveling: I don’t want to visit my grandparents house, but I know I need to.
In spite of every emotion we feel, our knowledge of many situations push us to do what is right–no matter how emotionally opposed to it we are.
The key however, is not to entirely discount your emotions. They play an enormous part of life and to ignore them would be foolish. I guess the best thing to do is to interpret your emotions based on what you know to be true. If the emotions don’t fit in life with what is truth, then ignore the emotions (buying something rashly). And if they do agree…enjoy them both for the split second they do agree!