In our relentless quest for constant happiness we’ve fundamentally misunderstood the nature and purpose of our emotions. The prevailing notion that emotions exist primarily to make us feel good is not only misguided but potentially detrimental to our performance and well-being. Drawing from work in evolutionary psychology, we can gain a more nuanced and accurate understanding of our emotional landscape and its impact on our performance under pressure.
Evolutionary psychology suggests that our emotions evolved not to make us happy, but to help us survive and thrive in challenging environments. They are, in essence, modes of operation designed to protect us and facilitate the achievement of our goals. This perspective shifts our understanding from emotions as mere feelings to emotions as functional adaptations crucial for peak performance.
Consider anxiety, for example. Research demonstrates that anxiety serves as a threat-detection mechanism. It’s not meant to make us feel good; rather, it’s designed to heighten our awareness and prepare us for potential challenges. This emotion operates as a protective mode, triggering heightened focus and alertness that have historically increased our chances of survival and success in high-stakes situations.
Ironically, the more we fixate on trying to be happy or calm in high-pressure environments, the less effective we tend to become. This paradox arises from our misalignment with the true purpose of our emotions. When we expect our emotional systems to constantly produce positive feelings, even in stressful situations, we’re setting ourselves up for disappointment and suboptimal performance.
Instead of pursuing happiness directly, we should focus on understanding and working with our emotions as they were designed to function. For instance, research on stress responses suggests that this emotion evolved to mobilize energy and increase cognitive performance in challenging situations, not simply to make us feel comfortable. By recognizing this, we can better harness stress to enhance our performance in high-pressure environments.
Viewing emotions as modes of operation rather than just feelings allows us to appreciate their complexity and utility in high-stakes situations:
1. Anger: Often viewed negatively, anger can actually serve as a performance enhancer. Research suggests that anger evolved to help us overcome obstacles and assert our interests, which can be crucial in competitive environments.
2. Fear: While unpleasant, fear is a crucial performance mechanism. It puts us in a heightened state of alertness, preparing us to deal with potential threats and challenges in high-pressure situations.
3. Pride: This emotion isn’t just about feeling good about ourselves. Evolutionary psychologists propose that pride functions to signal our value to others and maintain motivation, which is essential for sustained performance in demanding environments.
Understanding emotions from this perspective can lead to more effective performance strategies in high-pressure environments:
1. Recognize the adaptive function of each emotion in performance contexts.
2. Use emotions as information about the performance environment and your internal state.
3. Allow emotions to guide behavior in ways that align with performance goals.
Our emotions aren’t designed to make us perpetually happy or calm, especially in high-pressure situations. They’re sophisticated adaptations that have evolved to help us navigate complex environments, overcome challenges, and pursue high-stakes goals. By shifting our focus from constantly seeking positive emotions to understanding and working with our emotions as they were designed, we can enhance our performance and resilience in demanding situations.
The next time you experience a “negative” emotion in a high-pressure environment, rather than trying to suppress it, ask yourself: What is this emotion trying to tell me about the situation? How can I use this information to optimize my performance? This approach, grounded in evolutionary psychology, can lead to a more nuanced and effective relationship with our emotional selves, ultimately enhancing our ability to perform under pressure.
To Building Fortitude.
Best Regards,
Colin Jonov, Founder & CEO Athletic Fortitude
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