Meeting of the Two Minds: Wise Mind

In dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) it is proposed that there are three states of mind: reasonable mind, emotion mind, and wise mind. It is believed that each state of mind processes information in its own way – each making a different conclusion out of the same situation. 

How Do These Minds Operate? 

Marsha M. Linehan, founder of DBT, outlines how each mind operates in her DBT Skills Training Manual. Linehan describes the following: 

• Reasonable Mind:

  • Our cool, rational, and task-focused mind

  • Ruled by fact, reason, pragmatics, and logic

  • Ignores emotion, values, and feelings

• Emotion Mind:

  • Our hot, mood-dependent, and emotion focused mind

  • Ruled by moods, feelings, and urges to do or say things

  • Ignores reason, facts, and logic

• Wise Mind: 

  • The wisdom within each individual

  • Seeing the value of reason and emotion

  • Bringing left and right brain together

  • “The middle path”

Which Mind is the Best?

In DBT, it is proposed that it can be most beneficial for one to use their wise mind. When using your wise mind, you are bringing together your emotion mind and your reasonable mind. You are recognizing both exist and have space. In times of difficulty, it can be beneficial to ask what your wise mind would say. This allows you to take into consideration all aspects of a situation and make the most informed decision. Wise mind allows us to consider long-term consequences of situations while still acknowledging our emotions and emotional urges. 

Next time you are having difficulties making a decision I encourage you to ask, “What would my wise mind say?”