Emotional Mind, Rational Mind and Wise Mind

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Our minds operate along three primary dimensions – the emotional mind, the rational mind, and the wise mind. Understanding the unique characteristics and interplay between these three facets of consciousness is crucial for cultivating greater self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to make balanced, effective decisions.

What is an Emotional Mind?

An emotional mindset is a state of mind in which emotions and feelings are more dominant than logical thought and reasoning. It is a “hot side” of the mind. People with an emotional mindset tend to be highly reactive to their emotions, and they often make decisions based on their feelings rather than considering the practical aspects of a situation. They may be highly sensitive and easily influenced by their emotions, which can lead to impulsive behavior and poor decision-making. The emotional mind is responsible for aspects such as poetry, music, art, fashion, etc.; it is the passionate side of the mind.

Although an emotional mindset is not necessarily a bad thing, it is often viewed negatively and carries social disadvantages. Our emotional reason is responsible for feelings such as love, fear, anger, etc. If thought out with the rational mind rather than the emotional mind, the outcome or the decision made would differ in some situations.

An example of an emotional mindset is when a person makes a decision solely based on their emotions and feelings rather than a logical analysis of the situation. For instance, if a person buys an expensive item because they feel happy and excited, even though they know they cannot afford it, they are operating from an emotional mindset. In this case, their emotions are the driving force behind their decision, rather than practical considerations such as their budget or financial responsibilities. Another example could be someone quitting their job impulsively because they feel undervalued or unappreciated, without considering the consequences of unemployment or finding a new job.

What is a Rational Mind?

A rational mind, also known as the reasonable mind, guides us into thinking over a situation clearly without feelings getting in the way. Take the pervasive example of people in love. A person in love would not understand how you can see their partner in the wrong, even though the partner would be wrong at times. Because they are using their emotional mind while you are using your rational mind. In our world, being of sound mind with the ability to make reasonable decisions is such a valued characteristic. It is admirable and respectable to be able to analyze situations and come up with a pros-and-cons list.

The rational mind is great to use when trying to figure out how to solve a crisis because it is highly based on logic, and it is a “cool” side which is quite contrary to the emotional mind. For instance, if a person is considering buying a new car, they may research different models, compare prices, evaluate their budget, and weigh the pros and cons of each option before making a decision. They might also talk to experts or ask trusted sources for advice to make sure they are making an informed decision. Here, the individual employs logical reasoning to assess the decision, relying on factual data and pragmatic factors, instead of allowing emotional responses or spontaneous urges to influence their choice.

Although using your rational mind can lead to accurate and correct decisions, it may not always lead to making wise choices. Therefore, it’s important to know how to tap into your wise mind.

What is a Wise Mind?

It gets more interesting when one can use both their rational and emotional minds in sync. In short, the wise mind is where the emotional and rational minds overlap. In dialectical behavior therapy (DBT),

“wise mind” is a mental state in which a person integrates their rational and emotional minds to make decisions based on logic, intuition, and their own values.

A wise mind is considered a balance between the two states of mind, where a person can use their logical reasoning and emotional responses to make decisions and solve problems effectively.

Emotional Mind Vs Rational Mind
The Three Minds

An example of a wise mind is when people combine their emotional and rational minds to make decisions grounded in logic and aligned with their values, beliefs, and intuition. For instance, if a person is considering a job offer, they may use their rational mind to evaluate the salary, benefits, and job requirements, but they may also tap into their emotional mind to consider how the job aligns with their passions, career goals, and personal values. They may also listen to their intuition or gut feelings to make the right decision. In this case, the person is using their wise mind to make a logical and authentic decision to their personal values and beliefs.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Achieving a harmonious balance between the emotional mind and the rational mind can be a challenging endeavor for many individuals. While some people tend to be more inclined towards the emotional realm, others rely more heavily on their analytical, logical faculties. These two mind states – the passionate, instinctual emotional mind and the detached, rational mind – can often feel at odds with one another.

This is where the practice of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) comes into play. DBT is a form of psychotherapy specifically designed to help individuals who struggle with regulating their intense emotions. The core premise of DBT is that by developing a deeper understanding of one’s emotional experiences and cultivating effective coping strategies, a person can learn to strike a balance between the emotional and rational dimensions of the mind.

One of the key assumptions in DBT is that everyone has the capacity to access their “wise mind” – a state of integrated awareness that combines the insights of both the emotional and rational faculties. By learning to tap into this wise mind, individuals can find the middle ground between being overtaken by passionate feelings and rigidly adhering to logic and reason alone.

The struggle to express emotions in a healthy, constructive manner is a common challenge that DBT aims to address. Through this therapeutic approach, people can gain greater control over their emotions and mood swings, developing the ability to navigate the ebb and flow of their inner experiences with more awareness and self-regulation.

Ultimately, the goal of DBT and similar mindfulness-based interventions is to help individuals cultivate a more balanced, harmonious relationship between the emotional mind, the rational mind, and the overarching wise mind. By developing this multidimensional perspective, people can learn to respond to life’s circumstances with greater clarity, empathy, and adaptive decision-making.