Comments on: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Core Mindfulness

By: Augusta

Augusta — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:02:19 +0000

I think this dialogue is exactly why this type of therapy is so important. It is important to honor and incorporate both logical and emotional thinking when making a decision. Decisions do indeed need to be made intentionally. Rather than making decisions exclusively with either logic or emotion, it is vital to incorporate both. Otherwise, we all risk making decisions that are not beneficial to the world at large. And, sometimes, these same decisions are not even beneficial to ourselves. I love the idea of making decisions based on the outcomes they are thought to bring. This way, we can evaluate how those decisions will affect ourselves as well as those around us.

By: Dianne

Dianne — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:59:50 +0000

Ah, my dear Martin. But, aren’t you making a flawed assumption? Aren’t you assuming that all goals are selfish ones? Isn’t is possible that someone could make a goal of feeding the hungry and clothing the naked? I guess, if they do, they could go strictly on logic in obtaining that goal. Or, would they end up stepping on toes in pursuit of the unselfish goal?

By: Martin

Martin — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:15:25 +0000

I partially agree with what Ralph said. However, I don’t think the world would be better off if we just reacted from our logical selves rather than our emotional selves. Hence, the author’s reference to a wise self as being a combination of the two. If we never let emotions enter our decisions, where would we be? We would all act in self interest alone, with never an altruistic thought or action in the mix. The poor would not be fed, the naked would not be clothed. What kind of world would that be?

By: Ralph

Ralph — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:13:28 +0000

I really love this approach to life in general. I think so many people would be better off if they would only formulate a goal and then evaluate how their actions are affecting their attainment of their goal. If their actions are causing them to progress towards their goal, they continue the behavior. However, if their actions are distancing them from their goal, they change their behavior. It sounds so simple, yet why can’t we all get this thing accomplished? It all lies in our emotions. It is so difficult for humans to discount our emotions and make decisions based solely on such wonderful, logical thinking.