Two Minds
Have you ever hear the phrase, “I’m of two minds about something”? It means having two separate ideas or opinions about something and being undecided between the two.
From a psychological perspective, there is some truth to the concept of two minds- the emotional mind and the rational mind.
The Emotional Mind
The emotional mind, as you’ve probably guessed, is fueled by feelings. Its known for sparking creativity and inspiration, and tends to run hot, demonstrating both intensity and volatility.
Our emotional mind is the primary driver of our behavior, reflects our feelings and values, and often drives our actions.
When we utilize emotional reasoning, we tend to believe that our emotional reaction proves something is true (aka ’emotional truth’), even if evidence is to the contrary.
Feeling and longing are the motive forces behind all human endeavor and human creations.
- The Rational Mind
The rational mind uses logic and data to (carefully) make decisions. The rational mind responds well in a crisis, staying cool, putting emotions on the back burner and focusing on the situation needed resolution. Known for being pragmatic, the rational mind focuses on facts, not feelings and tends to be very task-oriented.
