When I was in medical school, I had the opportunity to spend time with a dynamic neurologist named Dr. Antonio Damasio. He described an interesting patient who could not decide whether to have a ham or turkey sandwich for lunch. The patient who had previously been a successful attorney could enumerate the pros and cons of each option clearly and logically but could not use that information to make a decision. He was trapped in indecision, not just about his lunch order, but about all the decisions in his life, big and small.

The patient had previously undergone minor brain surgery, but testing showed that he suffered no cognitive impairment. In fact, he scored high on all his cognitive tests and was able to think through and solve logical problems. He could not answer questions about what he wanted, whether that be when he wanted to schedule his next appointment or what he wanted for lunch.

A brain scan showed that his surgery had severed the connection between his amygdala (part of the brain responsible for emotions) and the Pre-frontal Cortex (the logical part of the brain responsible for planning). The rational part of the brain and the emotional part of the brain had been disconnected. This disconnection between his logic and emotions made it impossible for him to make decisions based on personal preference. It turns out we need integration between our logical and emotional thinking to make decisions. Sorry, Mr. Spock.

Emotions play an essential role in our decision-making.

Our rational mind can suggest good choices, but it ultimately takes our emotions to tell us which of those suggestions best fits with what we want. So the key to good decision-making is not to think like a robot but to successfully integrate your emotions into your thinking process. But that process is fraught with potential hazards, and one of the biggest ones is separating your emotions from your mood.

Emotions vs. Moods

Emotions are intelligent subconscious summaries of what does and doesn’t work for you. Thus emotions can offer you helpful information to make decisions consistent with your values and desires. On the other hand, Moods can distort our decision-making by coloring how we perceive our situation and what we attend to.

Emotions and moods are two distinct entities, although they can influence each other. When you are in a bad mood, it is harder to experience positive emotions — but not impossible. So you need to be aware of the differences between mood and emotion so you can make the best decision.

Differences Between Mood and Emotion

Emotions tend to be brief, lasting only a few minutes. In contrast, mood is a more pervasive state that can persist for hours or even days.

Emotions are a response to something specific. Someone offers you a compliment, and you feel a moment of joy. Moods are more global, general feelings, not a reaction to one particular situation.

Emotions, such as exhilaration, terror, despair, love, and joy are intense feelings. You know when you are experiencing an emotion. Moods are more low-grade experiences. This means moods can influence you without being aware of how your mood is coloring your perception.

Emotions are easy to name and have universally recognized facial expressions. Moods lack clear names and facial expressions, usually leaving us to describe them as simply “good” or “bad.”

To make good decisions, we need to listen to our emotions.

When you feel happy, that tells you things are going right. Anger, on the other hand, informs you something is wrong and needs to be changed. Neither of these emotions is right or wrong. They both give you helpful information in the proper context.

Your emotions are a subconscious summary of what does and does not work for you. They tell you what is essential and meaningful. You can make the best logical decision, but if it does not feel right, you will be disappointed in the end.

Imagine making up a list of all the characteristics you want in a spouse. Then you give that list to another person who goes out and finds a person who meets every requirement. Would you automatically marry that person? Probably not; you would want to meet them first and see if you feel an emotional connection. All big decisions in life are like this; they need to integrate logic and emotion to feel meaningful and correct.

So how can you correctly employ emotion in decision-making?

First, try naming the emotion you are feeling. As mentioned above, emotions are specific and can be named. If you can put a name to what you are feeling, it is likely an emotion, and you would be wise to listen to it.

Putting a name to the emotion also helps you align your emotional brain with your rational brain for better integration. Putting a name to the emotion allows your logical mind to recognize and understand what you are feeling.

Moods lead to bad decisions.

Whereas emotions can clue us into what is essential and what to avoid, moods can be a problem in three ways.

Moods can directly influence our decisions. This is true of both good and bad attitudes. For example, being in a good mood makes us feel more optimistic, leading to more risk-taking. While feeling bad can make us feels more pessimistic, resulting in missing opportunities.

Moods can be confused with emotions. The general feeling associated with a mood can be confused for the more specific feeling of an emotion. When that happens, you make the mistake of deciding based on a global feeling rather than a reaction to the particular situation.

Moods influence emotions. Your mood makes you more receptive to emotions that match that mood. It also makes you less receptive to emotions that contrast with your mood. It is possible to be in a bad mood and experience positive emotions, like when a friend tells you a joke to cheer you up, but the result will be momentary, and then the mood will reassert itself.

How to Deal with Moods

First, you need to recognize that moods are not a reaction to a specific situation. Often we blame a mood on an event, but generally, the mood is a more global phenomenon influence by things we may not even be aware of.

I have a son who must be fed regularly. If he goes too long without something to eat, he gets “hangry.” This happy boy can become a devil when his blood sugar gets low. It’s not something recognizes, but my wife and I know that when he gets like that, all it takes is a good sandwich to return min to his typical self.

Your mood can be affected by your internal state, your brain chemistry, lack of sleep, hunger, stress, changes in hormones, the amount of exercise you get, and many other factors. Some of these are outside of your control. Others you may not even recognize are affecting your mood.

Your mood can also be affected by external factors. A couple of years ago, I put myself on a “news diet.” I cut back on how much news and political commentary I consumed. It turned out that all of the gloom, doom, and outrage I was consuming impacted my mood. And I’m not the only one; news networks know that if they can put you in a dark mood, you will be more receptive to what they are pedaling.

How to Avoid Moods

Stay healthy. Eat regularly, avoid sugar, get plenty of sleep, exercise, avoid drugs, including alcohol and make time for family and friends. Seeing to these needs will keep your body and mind tuned up and less likely to drag you into moods.

Avoid negative people. The old saying “Misery loves company” is true. Miserable people love to drag the rest of us down to their level. Whether you want it to or not, their constant harping affects you. It’s subconscious and unavoidable, so your best solution is to avoid those people and not be exposed to their negativity.

Limit your exposure to the news. The people on cable news are skilled at making you feel bad about what is going on globally. They do that because it makes you more receptive to what they are selling. You don’t need to watch hours of “news” or read every newspaper to be well informed. I listen to a combination of NPR, BBC, and Fox News updates once a day to keep myself informed without being influenced.

Sometimes you should not make decisions. If you are in a particularly intense mood, whether good or bad, you should avoid making decisions. Instead, wait till your mood moderates so that you can get in better touch with your emotions. You should not rush crucial decisions. Wait until you are in the right frame of mood before you make a choice you will later regret.

Conclusion

Emotions are indispensable guides to making good decisions that integrate our thoughts with our feelings. On the other hand, Moods can dangerously influence how we see the world, distorting our perception and luring us into choosing things that do not fit with what we want. The key to avoiding letting your mood get the better of you is to put a name to what you are feeling. If you can name the feeling, it is likely an emotion and can give you helpful information on which to base your decision. If you can’t put a name to how you feel, other than a global good or bad, you are likely in a mood, and your best option is to wait to decide until that mood passes.

Keep in mind, staying rested, fed, and fit can help you avoid moods. Spending time with friends and family can also recharge your mood battery and get you back on an even keel. And don’t forget to avoid negative people, both in your life and in the media you consume.