Engaging The Heart And Mind

Engaging Your Heart and Mind

In a study published years ago by NeuroImage, it was discovered that in the human brain, there are two separate neural pathways used alternately when it comes to the expression of emotions and logical reasoning. You cannot just be empathic and engage in analytical problem solving at the same time over a matter. Simple study in human nature may have given us a hint of this fact but the numerous researches are backed by empirical evidence on these aspects of human behaviour. It simply states in plain terms “You cannot be emotional and actively engage in logical reasoning at the same time”. This is the sole reason people seem to become unreasonable in the face of conversation that is meant to be productive and intellectually engaging. The divert opinion that we view as coming to disrupt what we believe is seen as an attack. We become emotional, and put up a defence. We do not like the fact that others have a different view.

Humans have differing opinions and diverse views. That’s what makes us unique as individuals. We are all exposed to different things; are raised in dissimilar backgrounds which make us all unique. We view life from different perspective because of this and it’s a strength that if well managed through the display of certain virtues, great and effective communication, with a greater dose of patience added to the many other virtues, we become better off with each encounter with others who don't share our views regarding life.

While we don't have to leave every encounter agreeing with persons who hold other opinons to ours. We can agree on the fact that we will all see things from different perspectives and those who have found themselves viewing life from similar lenses tend to be compatible in matters related to where they agree on. This is how to agree to disagree. It is also the reason birds of the same feathers actually flock together.

Our diversity can be a facilitator, leading to our sharing experiences, culminating into a richer, more robust view of life. And it should. But it won't! This is where our human weaknesses come into play, disrupting the beauty of diversity.

The beauty of diversity is crushed by words in heated conflict. When you resort to the use of volatile words in arguement, you simply close the door to learning even from the most unreasonable person whom you’ve come to see as an opponent.

When one resorts to the use of denigrating statements in the face of the presentation of an opinion, or matters he doesnt agree with, he has succeded in shutting down perharps the most important organ in his body: the brain. Your ability to learn from the gathered experienced of the other person is truncated when you engage your emotion. You shut down your God -given ability to solve problems analytically by employing the use of logical reasoning. You miss an avenue to learn. And the only reason is because this opportunity to learn is not viewed so. The many vices plaguing humans, one of which is pride has a powerful blinding effect on the mind. Virtues, and many more virtues again are required when next you meet someone with a differing opinion from yours. And that’s now.

You will always meet other people that don't agree with you. How you perceive the experience will determine how you will react. Your reaction, a test of your maturity, since patience and humility are two virtues that measure our level of maturity. Patience and humility will determine how you listen to others express their views. It would be revealed in how you pass accross yours. When you begin to vent your emotions and shut the pathway to logical reasoning, the signs would be in your choice of words.

Teju Duru is a freelance journalist based in Ibadan, Nigeria.