Thrive into the Weekend (3.7.14)

[Thrive into the Weekend: A blog series designed to empower athletes to thrive in life and sport by encouraging intentional action]

By Kate Bennett, PsyD

Thrive into the Weekend by thinking outside of the box. As I discussed earlier this week, some people are predisposed to being rationally-minded whereas others are emotionally driven. Practice connecting with your non-dominant mind to enhance your Wise Mind.

Rationally-Minded People: Be willing to take a risk and dare to step outside of your comfort zone. Ideas for connecting with your emotional mind include going on a spontaneous day trip, journaling, drawing, listening to music from high school, or looking at old pictures. You can also connect emotionally by sharing the best and hardest parts of the day with a friend or family member. Devote time to connecting with your emotions, allowing space for spontaneity in your weekend.

Emotionally-Minded People: Slow things down and create plans. Identify one to two things that you would like to accomplish this weekend and plan for execution. When you notice yourself having a strong emotional reaction, take a deep breath and slow things down. Understand the source of your emotions and then respond. Create space for structure and stillness in your weekend.

After connecting with your non-dominant mind, take a moment to reflect on the experience and identify ways to continue using it on a daily basis. As you strengthen your non-dominant mind you will also enhance your Wise Mind. Live train thrive.

Image courtesy of www.selfullyyoga6.com

Develop Wisdom Regardless of Age

By Kate Bennett, PsyD

Over the weekend, I had the fortunate opportunity to come across a lecture about free will and personal responsibility. What struck me most was the speaker’s final remark; he noted that when people make choices based on how they feel, they become slaves to their emotions and closed with the comment that “slaves are not free.”

That statement sparked the intention of this post: Learning to develop a Wise Mind. Typically, when people think about wisdom, their minds immediately jump to elders with life experiences to draw profound knowledge from. While it is impossible to rush the process of drawing wisdom from life, it is possible to develop a Wise Mind and, subsequently, develop emotional freedom.

Let’s start by breaking the mind down: Rational Mind + Emotional Mind = Wise Mind

Image courtesy of www.get.gg/dbt

Rational Mind: The rational mind executes behaviors based on factual information. Remember the Scientific Method from seventh grade? That is the rational mind at its best. It is logical, analytical, and intellectual by nature. The rational mind is what allows people to accomplish goals, attend to details, and prioritize tasks. The downside of the rational mind is that it avoids risk-taking, is cold, calculated, rigid, and rule-bound, and leads to boredom. As a result of the lack of passion and calculated approach, rational minds can hinder relationships.

Emotional Mind: The emotional mind is fueled by emotions. It is exciting, passionate, and creative. The emotional mind improves relationships by creating intimate connections through emotional sharing. However, it distorts facts and lacks personal responsibility which may lead to interference with goals, damaged relationships, and impulsive decisions. The emotional mind is risky by nature.

Wise Mind: The Wise Mind is a healthy balance of the rational and emotional minds working together cohesively. It is the true meaning of the sum being greater than any of its individual parts. The Wise Mind is non-judgmental and intuitive by nature. Described as spiritual transcendence by some, it allows people to see the big picture, balancing logical analysis with emotional needs.

When people engage their Wise Minds, they assume personal responsibility not only for satisfying intrinsic needs and values but also develop healthier and more fulfilling relationships. Regardless of age and life experience, the Wise Mind exists. Once people are mindfully grounded in the moment, they have the opportunity to connect with their Wise Minds.

How would your experiences in life and sport change if you intentionally practiced integrating your rational and emotional minds? All individuals have strengths and weaknesses, which means that some people are more prone to engage their rational minds while others are naturally driven by emotions. Take a moment to explore how you can balance your strengths and weaknesses to develop your Wise Mind.