The Power of Reason + Compassion

A metaphor …

All helicopters have a similar design. They have a main rotor for lift and power and the rear stabilizing rotor for, well, pretty much what it says: stabilizing. Without both rotors functioning, a helicopter can’t take off — and if one of these malfunctions in-flight, they will almost certainly crash.

Like helicopters, we humans need both. For the sake of this metaphor, the main rotor providing lift is reason. The rear stabilizing rotor providing stability is compassion. (If it works better for you, I would be totally cool with the idea that compassion is the lift and reason is the stabilizer.)

Reason is a blend of critical thinking, emotional intelligence and logic — with a dash of mystery and principles thrown in for flavor. Reason requires humility — that we don’t always have the right answers or do the right things. It requires consciousness to prevent over-identification with thoughts and feelings. It requires a practice — ideally, learning and mindfulness. Reason uses data but doesn’t project biases on to it. Because reason requires a heightened level of consciousness, it also reduces biases. And when we reduce our biases, we don’t project them as narratives. Reason gives us the power to explore, expand, experience, grow, discover.