You Should Choose How You React to Your Feelings

According to Nate Sharpe on LessWrong, we tend to trust our feelings without much question—but that's often a mistake. The issue is twofold: we're frequently wrong about what actually caused a feeling, and even when we understand the source, our instinctive reaction might not be helpful. A classic example is hunger. When you're hungry, something minor someone does can trigger anger, but the real source of your frustration isn't their action—it's the empty stomach. Similarly, you might feel anxious about a test you're actually well-prepared for, or afraid of something that isn't actually dangerous anymore. But here's the harder part: even when you correctly identify what's causing a feeling, acting on your gut instinct can backfire. Yelling at a child who hit a sibling might feel right, but it teaches them that yelling is acceptable and doesn't address why the hitting happened in the first place. Getting scared during a backflip and flailing might make you feel safer momentarily, but it actually increases your injury risk. Checking the clock when you can't sleep wakes you up further, making the problem worse. The same goes for physical sensations. Muscular fatigue, cold, itching, minor pain—your body's alarm bells carry useful information, but your instinctive response isn't always the best move. Sharpe's core insight: feelings and sensations are data. Acknowledge them. Understand their source. But then choose your response rather than simply obeying your instinct.

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