Module 1. Mindfulness: (Discussion #7) Wise Mind

DBTuesday is a series of posts where we explore skills and concepts from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

This is one of several posts focusing on mindfulness, which is the first module of DBT skills training. See this post for general info about DBT and this post for more info about mindfulness.

Three states of mind

One of the central concepts of DBT is “Wise Mind”. The starting point is the idea that there are three different states of mind:

• Reasonable Mind
• Emotional Mind
• Wise Mind

Wise Mind is when reason and emotion are working together.

1) Reasonable Mind

Reasonable Mind involves approaching things based solely on facts, logic, and intellect.

• Advantages: good at planning, able to critically evaluate situations, pragmatic and practical
• Disadvantages: disconnected from emotions and values, might pursue actions that seem correct but don’t ultimately feel right or bring happiness

2) Emotional Mind

Emotional Mind involves approaching things based solely on emotions.

• Advantages: connected to personal feelings and values; can help with finding motivation to act, avoiding danger, empathizing with others, expressing oneself, and experiencing a sense of excitement or joy
• Disadvantages: can be impulsive, short-sighted, addictive, distorted, self-destructive

3) Wise Mind

Wise Mind involves integrating reason and emotion. It has the advantages of both Reasonable Mind and Emotional Mind without either of their disadvantages

Wise Mind is also greater than the sum of its parts. When reason and emotion come together, this can give rise to an experience of intuition:

• Having a physical/felt sense that something just “feels right”
• Feeling confidence/trust in one’s actions
• Having certainty or knowledge that something is correct

Example

Let’s say that someone is having a conflict with a co-worker at their job and is feeling unhappy with their job as a result.

• Reasonable Mind might ignore any feelings of dissatisfaction and justify this by focusing solely on beneficial things that the job provides (e.g. income, benefits).
• Emotional Mind might do something hot-headed like yelling at the co-worker or suddenly quitting the job while ignoring the possible long-term impact.
• Wise Mind might consider both the objective advantages of the job and the subjective feelings of dissatisfaction and try to come up with a course of action that respects both sides (e.g. talking with that co-worker, asking a supervisor for help, starting to look for jobs but not quitting immediately).

Reflection

Have you ever had any experiences of Wise Mind?

Sources:

https://www.dbtselfhelp.com/html/mind_states.html

https://wisdomcenter.uchicago.edu/news/discussions/wise-mind-how-logical-reasoning-can-help-manage-emotions

https://www.verywellmind.com/the-purpose-of-emotions-2795181

https://bayareadbtcc.com/accessing-wise-mind/