Cultivating Greater Mental Balance

The last of human freedoms is to choose ones attitudes – Victor Frankel

Years ago, Jill Bolt Taylor, a neuro-scientist, got to observe her left and right side of her brain while having a stroke.  The left side is about past and future.  It thinks linear.  All about organizing details and how we associate it. It thinks in language and remembers to do things.  

Right side of the brain is in the now; the present moment to moment.  This side thinks in pictures and learns by movement in our body.  Its process sensations, as energy being and consciousness connected.  We are beautiful and whole. 

I propose we are our out of balance.  Our left brain, rational dominated world threatens our future.   My/our minds are hyper-critical, and we are bombarded by negative messages, and a culture of cynicism created by media hype.   However, this trend has a psychological reason.  Our brain better responds to such bad news, messages, and events.   It is said that three-quarters of all our thoughts are negative.  Also we are much better at remembering the bad over the good.  As long as pessimism rules then we may be making a serious self-fulfilling prophecy.

Being imbalanced in the left brain, I find that my heart can be easily broken and misdirected. This is caused by acedia or what the Ancient Greek termed as “not caring” or “sour”.  Thomas Aquinas defined acedia as “lack of energy to begin new things.”  Acedia takes on many definitions from sloth, depression, numbness, boredom, apathy to other negative mind states resulting in bad things.  Such absence of vigor, enthusiasm and life energy is tremendous disability.

Joy is the opposite of acedia.   Acedia means energy depleted and by some as addicted by their despair. Such a nihilistic state is void of meaning, purpose, hope and love. Such people afflicted by this harmful mental affliction are detached, and self-destructed.  It is if they are on physic crack, soulless, numb, and empty of worth and filled with self-loathing.  This is a psychological form of terrorism and potential violence.

Thomas Aquinas observed the antidote to acedia when we find beauty, love, zeal and goodness. Joseph Campbell once said, “Life has no meaning what we are looking for is the experience of life. We shut ourselves off from this experience”.

Seeing what is positive, or possible helps better proceed in most circumstances then saying what is lacking or critical.  Elevating from being cynical judging I can reframe my mind to better observe any situation.  If someone is walking on ice their sense of balance becomes heightened. Borrowing from the Chinese symbol of crisis in any given instance means both danger and opportunity.

I can heal my broken heart when I greater balance my brain. This mental shift purifies my heart with a greater radiance and stimulates other virtues.   Becoming less left and more right brain requires preparation, training, and transformation. Visualizing greater happiness, love and wisdom I best align my mind to excel its potential.

Unless someone like you cares a whole lot of nothing is going to get better. Dr. Suess, from The Lorax