Make Your Mind Your Greatest Ally
REASONABLE MIND + EMOTIONAL MIND = WISE MIND HARMONY
Hey friend. We need to talk about that mind of yours.
This shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, but your mind can be your greatest ally or your absolute worst adversary. Read that again. Seriously, who wants to be their own worst enemy, anyway? Grasping your mind’s inner workings beyond how thought is validated or its’ storytelling pattern is next-level-life-together mastery.
Here’s the secret, this next-level-life-together mastery starts with getting into the Wise Mind. Don’t panic. I’ll explain, but first, please understand that comprehending the three states of your mind helps remove resistance, creates emotional intelligence, and helps you align with your purpose without getting in your own way.
The mind’s three active states are the reasonable mind, the emotional mind, and the wise mind. Whether we like it or not, we all actively use each of these states, but most of us tend to gravitate toward one specific area the majority of the time. Before you jump ahead and figure out which state you most operate from, know that each of the three serves a purpose.
Let’s break it down.
THE EMOTIONAL MIND
The emotional mind is where emotions are king and acts as the mind’s ultimate ruler. With the emotional mind in full force, feelings control a person’s thoughts and behaviors. It, too, can move actions and behavior into a state where little consideration is given to consequence because the emotional mind doesn’t necessarily delve into the world of facts. It uses perceived truths, and because of this, many distracting, unhelpful, and unnecessary thoughts are derived from the emotional mind. Stress and anxiety are also found here.
Maybe you are asking what about depression. Yep, it takes up residence here, too. However, before you tell yourself that you’ll never use the emotional mind again, know that it has excellent qualities, as well. This is the birthplace of passion, creativity, motivation, empathy, and spontaneity.
Perhaps now you can see why we operate from all three minds at one time or another.
REASONABLE/RATIONAL MIND
Let’s move on to the reasonable/rational mind. This is the home of rational, logical, intellectual, and fact-based thought. This is where the focus on detail, long-term action plans, and the ability to weigh the pros and cons are birthed. This is often where people say they are left-brain dominant. The rational/reasonable mind works in grounding, planning, learning, and organizing based on facts and truths. Yet, being only a reasonable/rational centered individual can easily lead you into a lifestyle of black and white thinking. It can also feel cold and calculated, emotionless, and it can reduce your life choices if it is the only mindset in motion. While this is the center of productivity and effectiveness, it must be in balance with the emotional mind so that growth and compromise are active factors in your daily life.
THE WISE MIND
Ultimately, you want to strive for the Wise Mind. It’s all about balance. It’s the midpoint between the emotional and the reasonable halves. The Wise Mind can recognize and respect feelings, details, and responds to each experience in a rational manner. It, too, is a place of knowing, balance, self-care, robust decision-making, confidence, and increased life satisfaction. It’s where thoughts are validated in a positive frame, and balance is gained to see the overall picture of what each experience has to offer. This is the home of maturity, truth, and harmony. It’s where growth is centered and fostered, and thriving truly takes place.
So, which of your “minds” is often most in control? Still, aren’t sure? Think of it this way:
EMOTIONAL MIND: Short-term, Hot, Quick, Mood-dependent, Emotion-focused, Impulsive, Passionate, Creative, Distorted, Intense, Empathic, Overthinking
RATIONAL MIND: Logical, Fact-based, Lacking in Emotion, Cold, Science and Math, Black and White, Analytical, Calculated, Narrowed, Planning, Learning, Intelligent
WISE MIND: Balanced, Calm, Long-term, Grounded, Clear & Focused, Conscience, Intune
You can see it, can’t you?
The Wise Mind is the great middle-ground people ask others to seek. When we access the Wise Mind, we can bring the left and right brain together. There are a host of other benefits.
With the Wise Mind, we can:
Retain or regain calmness in stressful or uncomfortable experiences.
Find clarity.
Create peace and pleasurable experiences.
Hone in a deeper understanding of self.
Tame the beast of limiting beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and habits.
Recognize and regulate emotions.
Enhance our relationship with self and others.
Grow in emotional intelligence.
Living in the Wise Mind’s middle allows for flexibility. It opens our eyes to seeking and acknowledging things from many different angles. This middle ground is the path between acceptance and change. To have your life together, the wise mind must rule and be king.
Can you see yourself in each of the three states of mind? Again, which rules the most? Is there a pattern developing about your emotional/rational thinking? How can your pattern be shifted into a balanced frame?
With little effort and increased awareness, you have the power to rule your mind instead of it leading you. Make the shift now, and your mind WILL BE your greatest ally.
Danielle A. Vann is a 19-time international award-winning author, a certified Life Coach with a specialty certification in mindfulness, a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, a certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner, and a certified meditation coach. She is also the creator and voice behind Get Your Life Together, Girl. To learn more, visit the bio page, and follow @Getyourlifetogethergirl on Instagram.
Copyright of Author Danielle A. Vann 2020