Chapter 1: The Role of Emotions in Decision-Making

How do our emotions impact the choices we make? As stated in the Rig Veda, “When there is harmony between the mind, heart, and resolution, then nothing is impossible.”

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When contemplating an action, it’s essential to ask yourself, “What motivates me to do this?” The answer reveals your core motivation, which can generally be categorized into four primary drivers: fear, desire, duty, and love.

For instance, consider the desire to travel. If your reasoning is, “I want to explore new places and prove that I’m an excellent traveler,” this indicates a motivation rooted in desire. Conversely, if you respond, “It was my father’s dream,” your motivation is tied to duty and love. Alternatively, if your rationale is, “I want to escape my responsibilities,” it reflects a fear-based motivation.

Once you identify your underlying motivations, reflect on the effort required to achieve your aspirations. For example, what steps are necessary to acquire a luxurious home and an upscale vehicle? Are you prepared for the effort involved? Will the pursuit itself provide you with fulfillment, even if you don’t achieve immediate or clear success?

It’s important to recognize that our intentions are seldom entirely selfless. For instance, a charitable act may be motivated by 88% altruism, 8% self-satisfaction, and 4% enjoyment of socializing with fellow volunteers. While multifaceted intentions aren't inherently negative, less pure motivations might lead to dissatisfaction, even if they result in success. Often, people find themselves unhappy despite achieving their desires because their intentions were misaligned.

Achieving goals with genuine intent involves aligning your actions with the values that underpin those goals.