Humans consider themselves clever and highly rational, yet most of us are far from acting rationally. The Law of Irrationality suggests that our emotions largely govern our actions and decisions, often leading us astray from reality. It prompts us to seek comfort and confirmation of our pre-existing beliefs.

It is nothing new that people usually find themselves in the struggle between emotional and rational sides. Consider the example of Pericles, a renowned statesman in Athens, around the fifth century BC. He convinced Greek leaders to show restraint when Athens faced the threat of attack by the Spartans. But after his death from the plague, his ideas sunk into oblivion. It resulted in a large-scale war that brought Athens to its knees, and the Spartans occupied the country.

The journey to rationality begins with acknowledging our inherent irrationality. All humans, regardless of wisdom, cannot escape the powerful impact of emotions on our thinking. Therefore, take your time whenever you need to decide on something to avoid acting in the heat of an emotional moment. Be more restrained and consider all the possible biases influencing the decision.

We naturally seek pleasure and avoid pain, which can lead to biased thinking. We may think we're seeking truth, but often, we're just seeking ideas that soothe us and boost our egos. For instance, confirmation bias is the tendency to only look for information that matches our beliefs. Conviction bias implies measuring the validity of any statement based on the strength of our emotions. There are many other types of bias, like appearance or group bias, which you undoubtedly have encountered.

It is also helpful to develop deep self-awareness if you want your irrational side to have less control over you. Reflect on your stress responses, decision patterns, strengths, and weaknesses. Understanding your emotions at their root helps identify triggers and underlying insecurities. Furthermore, accept people as they are. We often become frustrated trying to change others or expecting them to act as we do. Instead, view them neutrally, accept their diversity, and try to understand them.