All of a sudden - we hit a bump - we swerve and it seems as though someone else is in control of the vehicle. That's called the unconscious mind taking over - that irrational part of the brain that is wired to keep us safe. Oddly, in our modern world it is doing precisely the opposite, it stalls us, veers us off course and gets us into trouble. Can we change this? Can we be aware of how the brain works so as to ensure that we are always operating the vehicle safely?
Carl's Garage
Enter Carl Jung's theory of The Four Mental Functions, later developed into the popular MBTI psychological type instrument. If you are not familiar with the MBTI, it is an assessment of personality type based on Jung's theories. Millions of people have been assessed using the MBTI, however, most leave with a jumble of letters and no idea of how to apply the learning to their real lives. The assessment is used widely in career development, counselling, leadership, yet it is frustrating to see that in a lot of cases most people when asked will have no clue what the letters really mean. Let's demystify...
Jung first identified four mental functions that every human uses, these functions are mental energy, and how we use that energy determines how we will react and behave in certain circumstances. The most conscious of the functions we use is called the dominant, and it's our comfort zone - or in this case - the driver's seat. The Four Mental Functions as identified by Jung are: Sensing(S), Intuition(N), Thinking(T) and Feeling(F). Jung further identified that we make decisions or reactions in two ways. First through Perception then through Judgment . Perception is the way in which we gather information, through the senses, intuition about our surroundings. Judgement is our way of coming to a conclusion about the Perception.
Hang in - the windshield will get clearer!
There are two types of Perception or awareness - Jung called these irrational functions - we are doing this on an unconscious level. Some people have a preference or more energy around Sensing(S), some have a preference for Intuiting(N). Those with a preference for Sensing(S), will become aware through the five senses, and will rely upon observation, detail and in some cases past experience. Those with a preference for Intuiting(N) rely upon meaning, relationships and patterns - what is beyond the senses. When Sensing(S) is driving the car, the trip is planned, on trusted routes and on time. When Intuiting(N) is driving the car, the trip is open to possibility, side trips and the road less travelled. When one of these is your least preferred function, and it surfaces or you are being someone else - you are no longer driving the car - you may be veering out of control, or exploring new skills you need to make a change in your life.
Judgment Takes Over the Wheel
The other two mental functions Jung identified were Thinking(T) and Feeling (F) - these he identified as rational functions, or conscious. This can be where the trouble crops up in relationships, because of the differences in applying decisions. Thinking(T) is the function that comes to a decision by logic and cause and effect and tends to be objective and impersonal. Feeling(F) is the function which weighs values and merits and relies on personal and group values. There is no gender specificity to this - each gender can use each function. When Thinking(T) is driving the car, the trip will be logical, and linear. When Feeling(F) is driving the car, everyone aboard will get a say on where to go and how to get there, everyone will be comfortable.
Road Trip!
Most people go through life on auto-pilot, not a bad thing if your mental functions are balanced. However, if you are relying upon one set of beliefs that keep you comfortable - you may be in danger of never realizing your full capacity as a human being. Also, if your dominant function is not honoured - you may be spending life wondering whose life you are really living. On your Road Trip - who's at the wheel? Our brains determine everything we do in life, every road we travel. Being aware of why we do certain things and how our hard wired functions can cause us to stay small, stay comfortable, and use only a portion of our brains - can empower us to first understand, then explore other 'roads' and adopt different behaviours than the unconscious 'drivers'.
Feng SHe your Brain
In order to achieve true balance in life, learn how your unconscious brain is driving your behaviour, and learn how to tap into your other functions to achieve balance. Learn how the unconscious collective that Jung identified can drive groups of people to hurt each other and create whole cultures of hatred. Best of all learn how we can tap into the new collective conscious of a new movement toward understanding, accepting others as they are and creating a balanced world. Our brains are made up of energy, each one of us has the same energy - we just use it in different ways. If we all work together to complement and balance each other out - the collective energy we create can change the world. I believe it! Road Trip!
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