Knee-jerk reactions aren’t the best reactions

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/02/2019 (2510 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“Count to 10 before you say anything.”

“Breathe and relax your shoulders.”

“Think with your brain, not with your heart. “
You’ve heard these lines before, probably many times. Their prevalence tells us something — emotions often affect our actions before reason can.

Some believe that our knee-jerk reactions were developed as ways to help our ancestors survive. Being a part of a group and competing with other groups is something that would have helped tribes vying for food and shelter. In a peaceful era, where giving to others won’t cause your own demise, there’s no reason to act angry when someone accidentally drinks your soda at work.

That’s why reason is so important.

The Better Business Bureau Foundation’s LIFT program is teaching students and workers how to better incorporate reason and thoughtfulness into everyday decision-making.

It teaches them to step back from the emotion and analyze the situation before proceeding.

But to think ethically isn’t to think without emotion. Emotion can actually play a starring role in ethical actions. Sympathy for someone else’s suffering can help you behave in a way that helps that person, and thinking about others is at the centre of ethical decision-making.

Admiration evoked by watching someone reach out to another can spark a chain of ethical actions. Even guilt helps. It can deter us from acting unethically if we’ll feel ashamed of it later.  

So the solution isn’t to turn into emotionless robots. It’s taking the time to analyze why we’re feeling the way we do, and whether or not that emotion will fuel us to act ethically or unethically. That recognition goes a long way in achieving the outcome that will benefit everyone.

If it’s sympathy that causes you to go out of your way for someone in need, that emotion is sparking your ethical act. If it’s jealousy behind the rumour on the tip of your tongue, your emotion is getting in the way of your character.

The LIFT program helps people recognize which emotions are helpful, which aren’t, and how to think through situations ethically.

It also shows them how ethical actions help them reach their goals. Those who think about others and show care about them through their actions quickly gain admiration, respect, and allies. Their decisions benefit those around them, creating trust and a good working environment. And that, in turn, elevates people’s mood, mental health, and effectiveness.

For more information about LIFT, visit bbb.org/Manitoba