Have you ever had that feeling where you know exactly the steps you are supposed to take, but your spirit is just not ready for the hard work? Like, how you can be telling me this is what I have to do now? Ehn brain?

That is exactly what I am feeling right now.

The Plan vs. The Pinterest Trap

See, I have a whole series of blog posts and opinions already mapped out. I even had this wonderful idea on my way to work yesterday to write about Chef Dammy (yes, the cookathon lady from Ekiti!) graduating culinary school and how it inspired me. (Check here for the full gist).

But instead of writing that? I find myself doomscrolling design ideas on Pinterest for a project my friends and I are working on. It is really tedious when your brain generates hundreds of ideas per hour. Seriously, I would pay thousands for a “focus filter” right now.

It was in this dire moment of unseriousness that I decided to Google: “is it stupid to use emotions in logical situation?”

Lol, please don’t judge me o. My Google search history is always hilarious, I hope it is not only me.

Logic vs. Emotion

Anyway, that search led me to this wonderful blog post on Coaching Founder called “When Your Logic and Emotions Don’t Line Up” (Link).

I actually learnt some stuffs. Here is the very light summary of the blog (broken down so we don’t get a headache):

1. You Are Not a Robot

The blog says we always try to bully ourselves into working. We tell our brains, “Suck it up! Do the work! Stop being lazy!” But guess what? It doesn’t work. You can’t use logic to beat up your emotions.

2. The Supermarket Tantrum

Imagine a child screaming and rolling on the floor in a supermarket. If the parent starts screaming back or dragging them by the ear, does the child stop crying? No. They scream louder.

That is exactly what happens when you try to force yourself to work when you are feeling emotional or overwhelmed. Your “inner child” just screams louder and you end up scrolling Pinterest for 3 hours (oops).

3. The Solution? Be the Nice Big Sibling

Instead of fighting it, you are supposed to talk to that emotional part of you. Literally ask yourself, “Why are you scared? Why are we hiding from this work?”

When you comfort that emotional side like a nice big brother or sister, the fear goes away, and your logic and emotions finally agree to work together.

So, I’m going to try and be nice to my inner child now so I can finally get some writing done.

But first… let me just check one more thing on Pinterest. (Just kidding!)