This is a exaggeration of course, but I've been struck by just how many sticky problems have an emotional component.

I have a tendency to ignore emotions in favor of (what seems to me like) the main content, but I limit myself when I do this.

Enthusiasm, despair, excitement, fear - these are too powerful to ignore. But naming them and uncovering the deeper values they reveal helps me make better decisions.

For example, I value minimalism and getting rid of junk but routinely put off doing any decluttering.

I realized that what I call "decluttering" is really better termed "making difficult decisions about my identity."

To get rid of <hobby supplies> that I never use involves confronting the fact that I'm not a <hobby> person. It's painful to realize that I'm not who I wish I was.

Getting rid of something I spent a lot of money on reveals that I wasted the money. I'm not as wise and frugal as I wish I was.

I put off minimalism because I don't have to feel those bad feelings if I don't force myself to evaluate and make the decisions.

And this scenario plays out in a lot of different areas of my life.

I don't take action toward a goal because I don't want to get excited and then fail and have to face the disappointment. Easier to coast along content with the status quo.