Key points

The value someone places on their emotions can have lifelong benefits.

The ability to label emotions can help a person regulate them and cope with distressing situations.

The belief that emotions can help can boost well-being and lead to more positive outcomes.

Emotion has a bad reputation in decision-making —being emotional is often seen as counter to rational thought and good decision-making. People often have the idea that if emotions can be avoided or suppressed, then they will make better, more rational decisions. Classic characters that capture this idea are Spock from Star Trek and Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory.

Some of the concern about emotion is warranted—emotions are powerful and can lead people to act or think in ways that are detrimental to their long-

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