Heart or Brain?

honeychile · #1 01-27-2006, 01:26 AM

I once read an article by Marilyn Vos Savant which asked her, "If your heart says one thing and your brain says another, which do you go with and why?"

She responded, "I'd go with my brain, knowing that my heart would fall in line as it realized it wasn't being hurt."

That has gotten me through a lot of situations, but now I'd like to ask the Greek Chat Community: Do you ever go with your feelings, forget about the consequences?

The last time I got a very strong "I should do such and such" feeling was a few years ago, and I ignored it. I ended up in the hospital (this would make more sense if I fully explained the circumstances, but don't hold your breath). I have the beginning of that feeling again, involving a plane trip, and no, I'm not the least bit afraid of flying. I know I will be laughed at, should I say that I have a bad feeling about this - but I really don't feel as if I should go. HELP! (That's question 2.)

KSUViolet06 · #2 01-27-2006, 01:37 AM

Go with your brain.

AchtungBaby80 · #3 01-27-2006, 07:56 AM

Normally I would agree with Marilyn and say go with what your brain tells you. However, if you are having some sort of weird gut feeling about going on this trip and you don't get those very often, I think you should listen to it. Sometimes what we think are only emotions is really our subconscious trying to tell us something.

mulattogyrl · #4 01-27-2006, 09:52 AM

I go with what I feel. Your gut is telling you something for a reason.

wrigley · #5 01-27-2006, 10:02 AM

In the past, I didn't always follow my gut instinct and used the heart or head approach. In the past several years, I've found my gut instinct to be right on the money.

Kevin · #6 01-27-2006, 10:28 AM

Why do you limit your motivator to just the heart or brain.

There's a substantial 'other' category here for which a discussion is probably due.

honeychile · #7 01-27-2006, 01:16 PM

Thank you all for your replies - it's been resolved!

I was to go to Chicago, and was supposed to buy my plane tickets last night, but I just couldn't, something just kept telling me not to. As you all know, I pray often, and so I did specifically about this.

Then, I got a phone call this morning, from my mother's cousin. His wife is the Legal Adjunct for the USA in Macedonia right now (they're both attorneys), and they'll be in town at the same time. If I had gone to Chicago, I would have missed them, and they're a lot of fun!

So, in this case, I think it was Option C - listening to the Lord!!

Rudey · #8 01-27-2006, 01:20 PM

I listen to my....DICK.

-Rudey

honeychile · #9 01-27-2006, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
I listen to my....DICK.

-Rudey

I don't have that sort of relationship with cousins.

Rudey · #10 01-27-2006, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by honeychile
I don't have that sort of relationship with cousins.

You quote Robert E Lee so I got confused.

-Rudey
--But then again, I never said it had to be sexual or that you had a dick.

amycat412 · #11 01-27-2006, 02:19 PM

I've always gone with my heart. But that's gotten me in trouble more often than its helped me. Its an issue I am currently trying to solve. Follow my heart, or do what I know is ultimately better and healthier for me. lol

RioLambdaAlum · #12 01-28-2006, 01:39 AM

I try to balance out the two, but yeah that don't always work.

honeychile · #13 01-28-2006, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by amycat412
I've always gone with my heart. But that's gotten me in trouble more often than its helped me. Its an issue I am currently trying to solve. Follow my heart, or do what I know is ultimately better and healthier for me. lol

I think I tend to listen to my brain when I know that I can't be fair about which to chose. That piece of advice that I mentioned at the beginning is what got me out of an abusive marriage. When I started saying, "Why would I stay in a situation where I will probably end up dead?", my heart became less involved with the decision.

amycat412 · #14 01-28-2006, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by honeychile
I think I tend to listen to my brain when I know that I can't be fair about which to chose. That piece of advice that I mentioned at the beginning is what got me out of an abusive marriage. When I started saying, "Why would I stay in a situation where I will probably end up dead?", my heart became less involved with the decision.

Yes that makes a lot of sense. I think I do the same thing and that is also what got me out of an abusive marriage and what may finally be starting to take over in my current situation. Sigh

Kevlar281 · #15 01-28-2006, 03:58 AM

Brain wins every time. I'm about as detached as it comes when it comes to makeing emotional decisions.