I am gradually understanding how empathy and logical sense work in our minds. Today, I will introduce how logical sense stops our emotions.
How do our minds work?
Sometimes, we want to know how our minds work. It provides us with a crew to solve our problems.
In other words, when we are mentally confused, we don’t even know how we are thinking.
A typical example is endless looping thoughts. For example, suppose this situation: something made us remember a past social failure with negative emotions, such as shame, anger, sadness, loneliness, or other mental upset.
It makes us reflect on why we did such a thing and blame ourselves. Then, we imagine, ‘Only if I did it this way.’ However, that regret makes us face reality. We meet the past failure again. We feel the emotion again and blame ourselves. The infinite accusing cycle begins.
We don’t know what is wrong. Where should we modify, remembering the past, self-reflection, or blaming ourselves? That confuses us and makes us unable to escape the endless thought loop.
It would be effective to know how our logical sense works in our minds. It tells us that logical sense will get us out of the infinite mental cycle at any time, although it takes time. Today, I will introduce it.
How to stop our negative emotional loops
Although it takes time, our logical sense can stop negative emotional loops.
In other words, there is nothing wrong with a loop of thought. We usually try to figure out what the cause is, but we have to let go of the idea. Instead, we focus on shortening the loop time. That would lead you to the solution.
To explain why, let’s look at how logical thinking intercepts the initiative of thought.
Processes of emotion and logic
The order of a thought occurrence is always from emotion to logic. An emotion always comes first. Logic follows. We cannot interfere with it.
This is because emotions are more instinctive. Instinct comes first, and thought comes later.
To be more specific, mirror neurons, parts of the brain that cause empathy, are located on the central side of the brain. On the other hand, the logical area is placed on the outside of the brain—the frontal lobe.
The process of emotions with logic
It tells us that it is natural to process emotions with logic.
The order of how logical sense processes an emotion is as follows:
- An emotion arises.
- The logical sense recognizes the appearance of the emotion. It is enough to just acknowledge its existence, but we don’t ignore it.
- The logical sense determines whether to continue to experience the emotion. If we decide to enjoy it, we indulge it.
- If we conclude it is unpleasant or harmful, we start to think based on rationality. Starting logical thinking settles the emotion down.
It tells us that logical sense has the power to process emotions. Although empathy arises first, it can be processed. On the other hand, logical judgment comes later, but it holds the processing power.
Both are similar but opposites. Developing logical sense means granting processing authority. That allows us to balance them.
The process of emotions with only empathy
On the other hand, if we use only empathy, the thinking process is as follows:
- An emotion arises.
- We try to solve with empathy. Empathy is a power to feel others’ values. That makes us reflect on the past.
- The endless loop of reflecting, blaming, and regret occurs, as explained at the beginning of this article. Empathy forces us to continue to judge based on others’ values.
- We have two endpoints. One is exhausted and stops thinking. The other is to ignore and forget it—suppress the emotion. However, they will not solve the root problem. We will have the emotion again by similar triggers. In addition, unconscious fear restricts our options.
Shortening the loop time
Those two processes show us that focusing on shortening the loop time would work.
This is because we have to wait until empathy gets tired. We cannot begin logical thinking as long as we have too strong emotional energy.
However, fatigue weakens the power of empathy. That is the time to use logical sense. We judge based on our rationality.
Focusing on rational judgment
Rational judgment cultivates the power of logic, even a little. When the same emotion arises next time, we can make a logical decision a little faster.
For example, our intense emotions might dominate us for about an hour at first. However, we can shorten it to 45 minutes next time. Then, it becomes 30 min, 15 min, 1 min… and finally, 1 sec.
The more we recognize our emotions, the more we can learn to say, “Oh, it is this emotion again.” We activate our logical sense immediately and suppress it.
In the final stage, we will be able to process emotions reflexively. We suppress the emotion without being aware.
A healthy resolution
A healthy resolution of the past is to forget it. It is almost the same as emotional repression—except for one difference: we are not afraid of the emotion rising again.
Logically speaking, there is no point in clinging to the past. As long as we can get feedback and forget without fear, we have no problem suppressing it.
In other words, we don’t have to resolve past emotions. What we need to do about our past is the following two things:
- Name the emotion. It allows logical sense to process. Every name is fine, even ‘X’ or ‘this strange one.’
- Then, suppress it by rationality. The more reasonable the logic is, the sooner it will disappear.
Healthy resolutions
For example, we might think, ‘It is absurd to spend my life worrying about the past.’
‘Everyone will die someday, and yet, not to enjoy the current tasty dinner out of fear of death is the act of a fool.’
They are the healthy resolutions. We can let go of the past failure without finding its meaning. Logical sense lets us be free from past traumas or flashbacks.
This is the approach of shortening the loop time.
Solving a mental complex
To solve our mental complex, when emotions arise again, try asking yourself, “Think rationally.”
It gives you a reasonable answer. Perhaps it teaches you that clinging to the past is a waste.
If you shift your focus to logic, the emotion will disappear, even if it takes time at first. Even if it remains inside you, there is no problem. The next time you recall it, the time dominated by the emotion is getting shorter.
With every logical judgment you make, you will notice that you are calming the outburst of emotions.
When you can do it as a conditional reflex, the flashbacks disappear from your consciousness.
One piece of advice from me—don’t let your guard down, even after a flashback disappears. Continue to make logical judgments. If you neglect it, flashbacks will come back. I have experienced it several times.
Conclusion
That is how our logical sense works in our minds.
It tells us that it will get us out of the infinite mental cycle, although it takes time.
This logic might help you solve your mental problems.
Thank you for reading this article. I hope to see you in the next one.
