A couple observations about ’emotional budgeting’:
- The most valuable thing I can build today is a better relationship with someone I love.
- The most expensive things I can break are someone’s heart, or someone’s will.
We each have limited resources… our choices matter today, and every day. I hope mine are wise today, and add value to my life and relationships, and enhance my experience in both meaning and quality. When I make mistakes, I hope I learn and grow from them, and have the wisdom to try something different next time.
Evening Light 
http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/wpress/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
I suspect this perspective may work for emotional “spoons” as well as physical ones.
I read it, and I think you are right. This is awesome – and really applies just as much to PTSD and brain injury issues of ‘running out of steam’ or ‘using up emotional reserves’, too. 😀 Thank you!