"The times that I have done something that I didn't respond to emotionally right away, it's generally not worked out too well"

In the quote by Natalie Wood, "The times that I have actually done something that I didn't react to emotionally immediately, it's usually not exercised too well", she reflects on the importance of emotional intuition in decision-making. Wood suggests that immediate psychological responses play an important role in guiding her actions. When she stops working to observe these initial reactions, the results tend to be unfavorable.

Interpreted broadly, this quote highlights the significance of feelings in our decision-making procedures. Feelings function as an internal compass, indicating how a specific option lines up with our values, desires, and authentic self. For Natalie Wood, acting against this psychological insight or overlooking it up until later typically leads to decisions that do not align with her real self or lead to satisfactory results.

This viewpoint is consistent with theories in psychology, such as the somatic marker hypothesis proposed by Antonio Damasio, which presumes that psychological procedures guide decision-making, especially in complex and unsure situations. When Wood mentions not reacting "mentally right away", it can be viewed as a disconnect between her intuitive understanding and her actions, which can cause incongruence and dissatisfaction.

It also underscores a wider life viewpoint that prioritizes emotional intelligence over pure rationality. While logical analysis is important, Wood's experience recommends that pure logic, lacking emotional consideration, may miss out on essential nuanced insights that feelings supply. Feelings typically consist of important information about personal limits, ethical stances, or deeper unconscious preferences that may not be right away accessible through logic alone.

Additionally, Wood's reflection can be viewed as an advocacy for mindfulness and staying attuned to one's internal state. By listening and responding to feelings quickly, individuals are better placed to make choices that are cohesive with their sense of self, resulting in more satisfying and effective outcomes. Hence, this quote can motivate people to integrate psychological awareness as a critical component in their decision-making toolkit.