The Rational mind – What will you get from this article?

Is this FOR you?

By the end of this article, you will have :

☑️ Set the foundational knowledge for self-management

☑️ Realised WHAT functions your RATIONAL mind does for you

☑️ Discovered HOW your RATIONAL mind think

☑️ Became aware of HOW your RATIONAL mind can assist with your decisions

☑️ Grasped HOW to leverage your RATIONAL mind capabilities for improving your performance & well-being

Is this like YOU?

Did it ever happen to you to :

� Got really MAD and immediately stop yourself from saying or doing something? Knowing that you know you might regret it LATER?

� Placed ALL the blame on others or the circumstances? And LATER thought you might have “played a part” in this too?

� Had a perception about a situation? And at a LATER time, noticed that it lacked a bit of perspective?

→ This was your RATIONAL mind unconsciously taking action!

With this article, you will learn how to leverage it CONSCIOUSLY.

What will you learn?

You will learn about your RATIONAL mind and its:
– Functions
– Thinking & conclusion processes

Reminder – Why learn this?

With this knowledge, you would be in an improved position to:
✔ Increase your self-awareness
✔ Leverage your existing ability to manage yourself, this is for improving your impact and success
✔ Manage any unwanted thoughts, or behaviour stemming from your PRIMAL (Emotional) mind

E-motion brings motion !

Recap previous articles – Your RATIONAL mind & your brain architecture

Your RATIONAL mind is a part of your brain architecture.

The RATIONAL mind represents your frontal lobe.

This is explained in detail in this article, you can read it to understand what you are made of.

RATIONAL mind functions

RATIONAL mind function #1 – SELF-CONTROL & WILL POWER

The RATIONAL mind is the operator of self-control, it can:
– Delay the innate PRIMAL (emotional) mind drives to seek immediate pleasure/rewards
– Allow you to work towards your long-term GAIN

Example: The temptations of sweets, cheese, alcohol or those “funky” cigarette
Imagine in front of you, there are many sweets or cheese or alcohol or those “funky” cigarettes.
Picture anything in front of you that you enjoy and that you know could be harmful in the long term.

You may think:
– “That looks like fun !” (Probably your PRIMAL mind kicking in)
And you may also think:
– “I won’t feel good tomorrow if I eat/drink this, so I will NOT eat/drink all of this”

Notice that:
✔ “I won’t feel good tomorrow if I eat/drink this → Self-control
✔ “So I will NOT eat/drink all of this” → Willpower

⚠️ Note on willpower:
Willpower is a form of self-control, as it involves doing something that may:
– Not be “fun at first”, it can include pushing yourself through PAIN
– Restrain any impulses to stop that PAIN
– Work for a long-term GAIN

Example:
You go exercising (PAIN)
→ For health benefits (GAIN)

💡 Science fact: Consequence of no frontal lobe activity
As reported in this article from the “National Library of Medicine”, certain individuals had their personalities altered following damage to their RATIONAL mind (frontal lobe).

Such damage occurred from an accident, an illness, a disorder…

These people, affected by such damage to their RATIONAL mind, have become disinhibited persons and they also lost their judgment.

They became apathetic (have no empathy) or developed outbursts of aggressive behaviour.

💡 Science fact & example with alcohol

When alcohol is consumed, it reaches the frontal lobe, and it causes loss of reason, loss of inhibitions and loss of self-restraint.

When intoxicated, notice that people may do or say things that they would not do when sober!

The following study has also reported that alcoholism causes permanent damage, to the RATIONAL mind (Prefrontal lobe).

How does your RATIONAL mind think?

Thought & conclusion : FACTS + PERSPECTIVE

PERSPECTIVE definition:
It is the ability to understand a situation with consideration of:
– How it can appear to another person(s)
– Time & Consequences

Examples: Thought process with FACTS + PERSPECTIVE
– “She might be difficult to get along with, this is given her track record of disputes (Data proof)”

–“He appears to be friendly.
Every time that I spoke with him (Consistency proof), I noticed genuine smiles from him.
Also, he always says hello (Consistency proof), and I saw him being pleasant with others, even with strangers (Social proof)”

Rational mind – Your capacity to think with OBJECTIVITY

This thought process & conclusion of FACTS + PERSPECTIVE leads to:
= OBJECTIVITY

OBJECTIVITY is the ability to not be influenced by feelings when considering facts.

Examples with OBJECTIVITY

– “I might not get the full answer about this situation, but I will focus on the undeniable facts & the truth of the matter”

– “It has been quite effective in the past, what is factually different this time?”

⚠️ Note about rationality :
Our innate human nature is to be biased as highlighted in this article from Cambridge University.
It is, therefore, crucial to think, as much as possible, based on facts and truths.

RATIONAL PLANNING – Facts search, wait & conclude

Planning with your RATIONAL mind is based on facts, with reflection & it is evidence-based.

The RATIONAL mind formulates its conclusions/opinions by:

1rst: Search for facts & evidences

2nd: Wait
– Delays the conclusion
– Gather further evidence
– Takes time to form a conclusion:
→ Taking time away from the situation & cooling down, allows the blood to flow from the EMOTIONAL part of the brain to the RATIONAL part, as highlighted in our previous article on your brain architecture.

3rd: Conclude
Form a conclusion based on the presented factual evidence.

⚠️ Note :
As explained in this article, your first perception is very often instinctively done by the PRIMAL mind.
It is then rationalised by the RATIONAL mind, leading to the sequence PRIMAL → RATIONAL.

Example: RATIONAL PLANNING: Facts search, wait & conclude

→ The PRIMAL mind may think “I like this person, I want to buy this workshop!!”

→ RATIONAL PLANNING example:
1rst: Search evidence: Facts & truths
– “I have genuinely learned a lot from the articles and videos, and this over a constant period of time”
– “I also saw many positive testimonials from serious and competent individuals”

2nd: Wait & gather :
– “This knowledge makes sense to me”
– After checking the details of the service, I see how it can benefit me with work and my day-to-day life”

3rd: Form a conclusion based on evidence
– “Buying this workshop will be a returning investment over time.
Given its track record, it is very likely that it will yield positive outcomes in various aspects of my life”

⚡ When you learn how to leverage your rational mind capabilities, you can increase your:

 ✓ Think strategically

 ✓ Rationalise

 ✓ Be more resilient

Enjoyed this article & curious to take it to the next level?

Realise that this article is an extract from the fundamentals of the Calm & Stress Management, Social Intelligence & Emotional Intelligence workshops.

These workshops are transformative blends of relaxation, mind management & communication tools & techniques. 

Designed to release your best, these workshops will deliver you the methods to :
✔ Become more relaxed & reduce your stress
✔ Be in charge of your emotions & increase your well being
✔ Develop your leadership & influence

→ For any questions about these workshops, you can schedule your FREE discovery call to find out more.

Up until next time, go learn & go RELEASE YOUR BEST !!!