Quote:
Originally Posted by Onward2wards
When I and others talk about "the Heart", I see it as basically an "innocent abroad". It is simply an expression of totally natural desires we want to have met: excitement; safety; self-expression; love (given and received); a balance between fitting in and being true to ones' self; etc.
"The Head" as I see it, is there to help the Heart get it's needs definitively met, in a way which is practical, logical, effective, and doesn't cause needless drama or harm for one's self or others.
So why does it seem like our references to "Head based thinking" often point to an inner pessimist, critic and all-round jerk who says "nah, can't be done, shouldn't be done, I have a bad feeling about this, sucks to be you, too bad really" (!!!) How does this mental function go so horribly, depressingly wrong? Does it stumble into a mere acknowledgement of old failures, future worries, limited thinking, a "voice of reason" based only on our subconscious worst fears? And if so, how to get it to do it's proper job? You had ONE job, Head, ONE JOB! 
My questions for you are:
What are The Heart and The Head from your point of view?
How do you experience them personally?
How do we get them in the same place at the same time, getting along well, and not bickering endlessly? |
For me they are one and the same.
For example, if you have a negative feeling about yourself you can engage in cognitive restructuring. You can think about what was the situation/trigger? What were you feeling? What were your thoughts? Were there any cognitive distortions (catastrophizing, all-or-nothing thinking, disqualifying the positive, etc.)?What evidence supports the thought? What evidence does not support the thought? Conclude if the evidence supports the thought. Decide which thought you choose to believe. How will you act on the thought that you chose to believe?
This is how I avoid conflict between my head and heart.