Emotion and logic are two words rarely used together. But what happens when we combine them? We become more capable of human connection—the cure for personal, professional, and social limitations that keep us from living the most dynamic lives we can create. Our emotional expressions are essential in building deeper, more meaningful connections.
Defining logical ways to understand our emotions allows us to know ourselves and each other more accurately, appropriately, and authentically. Emotion and logic serve as opportunities to transform our understanding of who we can be into lived experiences that reveal who we truly are.
Feelings and emotions are often difficult to untangle. Organizing our feelings into emotional destinations can create logical clarity from complexity, making emotions more accessible and available. The endless combinations of thoughts and experiences that shape how we feel can be structured into meaningful emotional expressions.
Connective emotional dynamics is the practice of understanding what each emotion expresses and the questions it asks—questions that invite us to be more expressive, perceptive, and receptive to emotional connection. Answering these questions defines who we are. Through scientific principles, we can trace a logical path to connection. Even before we fully identify or describe an emotion, it asks something of us and shapes our experience.
We want more of the release of our worth as we reflect on what we have had enough of and take control over what gives us value, deflecting from that which does not define us.
With a commitment to connective emotional development and a focus on change that is impactful, I aim to use my experience to help navigate the dynamics of emotional intelligence, communication and value alignment.
When we hear or think of emotional intelligence, we are often guided toward awareness, self-perception, reflection, and responsibility. We learn to manage stress, improve decision-making, and become more emotionally efficient. Greater awareness of our own emotions and those of others fosters empathy. All of this is true—yet many still struggle to clearly define what emotions actually are.
In reviewing the work of leaders in emotional intelligence, I found valuable skills for communication and emotional perception. Many tools for navigating professional and social situations emphasize awareness and engagement with others. However, some fundamental questions remain:
What are emotions beyond abstract descriptions? Yes, emotions motivate us—but which ones? Emotions communicate information—but what is each emotion actually saying? What does each emotion express, and what question does it ask? Is emotional intelligence more than empathy—more than simply recognizing and sharing emotions with others?
Modern approaches to emotional intelligence seek to answer these questions. By refining the components of thought, defining our terms and intentions, and aligning them with our values, we cultivate a deeper, more structured understanding of emotional intelligence and connection. This is the goal of Emotion and Logic: to bring structure to the abstract, transforming understanding into knowledge.
MOVE FROM UNDERSTANDING TO KNOWING
Copyright © 2025 Keith Johnson M.D. - All Rights Reserved.
Cover photo by Jon Parlangeli
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