Emotions are key drivers of decision-making.

Shame can create a negative cycle of financial hardship.

Reengaging with one small financial task can interrupt the shame spiral.

Imagine that you receive a letter in the mail from your bank that looks urgent. You can tell the letter is about your credit card, which you have an uncomfortable feeling you may have forgotten to make a payment on last month. The letter causes you to feel scared and ashamed. Would you open the letter? Or would you set it aside, telling yourself you’ll deal with it later?

How Emotions Can Lead Us Astray

The reason that emotions are such an important driver of decisions and behavior may be evolutionary. Over time, our ancestors developed emotions that became adaptive toward survival and reproduction.

Although emotions are often useful, they can also lead us away from the choices that would help us most. This is especially true when the emotion is shame. When people feel ashamed, they may protect themselves from painful information by avoiding it altogether. Turning to finances, a person in debt might avoid checking a balance, opening a bill, or reading an email from a lender because the information feels threatening.

An important part of living a happy and healthy life is developing the ability to overcome challenges. When it comes to facing........

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