Here are some thought I’ve been having on an aspect of the “Hollywood rationalist” stereotype that I exhibit. As it is a stereotype, I suspect others deal with it as well.
It is well understood around here that rationality != the suppression of emotion. However, for me at least, acting on my emotions to achieve near-term goals often results in decisions that are either inhibitory or stupidly impulsive. In light of this, I have attempted to heavily invest my emotions in my long-term goals and to suppress my emotions in more everyday situations. I think my acquaintances would perceive me as having a neutral, “Spockian” affect. It seems to me that this mode of behavior leads me to be generally contemplative about my actions and to procrastinate at times on activities several steps removed from my long-term goals but still necessary, or to put it another way, my suppression of “near” emotions promotes strategic thinking but impedes tactical thinking. This has both benefits and costs. People who know me often come to me for cool-headed advice and are likely to listen on the occasions that I speak up. I think I have more ability to control my moods than most people. I am passionate about my major goals and can engage in hours of thought about them, and to some extent bend my lifestyle to achieve them. However, I feel I am over-looking inefficiencies in my behavior that have become detrimental over time. I belief I’ve been significantly underachieving in life so far given my internal resources, and I suspect that this is part of the cause. I would like to maintain the control over my actions that emotional distance gives me while becoming more effective in everyday trivia. Does anyone have advice on this?
Here are some thought I’ve been having on an aspect of the “Hollywood rationalist” stereotype that I exhibit. As it is a stereotype, I suspect others deal with it as well. It is well understood around here that rationality != the suppression of emotion. However, for me at least, acting on my emotions to achieve near-term goals often results in decisions that are either inhibitory or stupidly impulsive. In light of this, I have attempted to heavily invest my emotions in my long-term goals and to suppress my emotions in more everyday situations. I think my acquaintances would perceive me as having a neutral, “Spockian” affect. It seems to me that this mode of behavior leads me to be generally contemplative about my actions and to procrastinate at times on activities several steps removed from my long-term goals but still necessary, or to put it another way, my suppression of “near” emotions promotes strategic thinking but impedes tactical thinking. This has both benefits and costs. People who know me often come to me for cool-headed advice and are likely to listen on the occasions that I speak up. I think I have more ability to control my moods than most people. I am passionate about my major goals and can engage in hours of thought about them, and to some extent bend my lifestyle to achieve them. However, I feel I am over-looking inefficiencies in my behavior that have become detrimental over time. I belief I’ve been significantly underachieving in life so far given my internal resources, and I suspect that this is part of the cause. I would like to maintain the control over my actions that emotional distance gives me while becoming more effective in everyday trivia. Does anyone have advice on this?