Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) presents three basic states of mind: rational mind, emotion mind, and wise mind.
The rational mind is one that just thinks and suppresses all emotion. Some may call this our “inner professor,” the part of us who tries to be rational, logical, and lucid about everything. It’s the part of us that is able to remain cool, calm and collected.
🔵 Cool
🔵 Rational
🔵 Task-focused
When we’re in emotion mind, we’re typically vulnerable to things that feel as though we’re being invalidated. We end up reacting impulsively rather than mindfully responding. Yet, these powerful feelings are also the drivers for success, for accomplishing things our rational mind would never ever consider possible.
🔴 Hot
🔴 Mood-dependent
🔴 Based on what “feels good”
When we experience wise mind, we feel stable, secure, and safe. We can observe, and we know what to do next. We accept that we are feeling all kinds of emotions, and can also pay attention to logic and all the rational thoughts that are present for us to examine. We feel centred.
🟢 Calm
🟢 Balance
🟢 Effective
The wise mind is a middle-ground between the rational and emotional minds. When acting with wise mind, you will healthy, helpful, and productive choices.
“It didn’t go as plan, and that’s okay.” - Wise Mind
As with any new skill, getting into a state of wise mind requires practice. The idea of learning how to act from wise mind is that with enough practice, it will become natural.
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