How Wise is Your Mind?
A peek into the DBT world, cherry-picking skills for the every day use.
Ever feel like your brain is a chaotic battlefield between logic and emotion? Welcome to the human experience! But fear not, I’ll walk you through the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skill of the Wise Mind.
I’ve been hyper-focusing on DBT skills over the past few weeks. Even though this therapeutic modality (AKA this specific flavor of therapy within the ice cream parlor of various therapy styles) was originally created by and for people managing symptoms of personality disorders, I find that the skills within DBT can be helpful for almost anyone!
What is Wise Mind?
Imagine your mind as a Venn diagram (stick with me, illustration-phobes). On one side, you've got Emotion Mind - the part of your brain that wants to start a food fight after receiving a nasty comment in the cafeteria. On the other side, there's Reasonable Mind - the logical, calculating part of the brain that insists on meal prepping and doing taxes. Wise Mind is the harmony in the middle that finds the more effective path to move forward on.
For anyone who took Psych 101 in college, the Emotion Mind is to the Id as the Reasonable Mind is to the Super Ego. The Wise Mind is the Ego that blends the two.
How to Practice Wise Mind
But how do you access this mystical mental state? Here are a few tricks for tapping into the Wise Mind:
Take a breather: Deep, mindful breathing can help center you.
Play "Spot the Wise Mind": Throughout your day, try to catch moments when you're naturally in Wise Mind.
Ask yourself, "What would my best self do?": Channel your inner role model for guidance.
Remember, achieving Wise Mind doesn't mean you'll suddenly start spouting fortune cookie wisdom. It's about finding that balance between your logical and emotional sides to make decisions that feel right for you.
So, the next time you're torn between binge-watching "Just One More Episode" and "I Really Should Go to Bed," take a moment to tune into your Wise Mind. Who knows? You might just surprise yourself with your decision-making skills.
May the Wise Mind be with you!
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