The Aspect of Mental Pro-action

In the previous article was an explanation of emotional reactions. They are automatic actions based on our inbred stimulus-response mechanism. Today we will investigate the mental processes associated with neocortex of the brain; the higher thought mechanisms. Emotional states of consciousness produce fight or flight responses. The remaining two states of consciousness are volition and cognition.

The willpower necessary to carry out non-reactive survival responses is the process known as volition. Volition revolves around judgment. Judgment is the process whereby we examine our evaluations and make stances or take actions in regard to protecting ourselves and our beliefs. Judgment is not a higher brain function because it takes evaluations from higher brain functions and makes them personal. When you step out of the realm of your personal survival mechanism (the ego) you take others into account. You measure actions or inactions against the ruler of how this benefits all of those involved in a particular situation. This is why Jesus made the statement, “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” When you start to look out for the other guy as well as yourself, you actualize your higher brain functions and begin to seek a collective understanding of yourself in relation to your environment. Willpower is a necessary tool to insure your safety and longevity, but it is not conducive to thoughts of growth and expansion.

Cognition involves states of consciousness where higher brain functions occur. In this realm perception of your environment and recognition or retention in memory is the initial step in interaction. Other states occur but are secondary responses to environmental interaction. Concentration is a state where you hold onto a thought and examine it. Contemplation is a state where you move a held thought around and examine it in different variations and situations. Evaluation is where you take your perceptions and examine the facts that you have sensed. Reasoning is a state where you employ deductive or inductive logic to examine the facts. Most people never even enter the stage of reasoning because they haven’t developed that part of their brain. Critical thinking requires not only observation but education as well. Logic allows us to reason out whether the fight or flight response is justified or not. Pro-action requires vision, not just the sense of sight but the ability to predict outcomes based on the facts. It understands the possibilities and through faith converts them into probabilities.