Think Your Way to a Happier Life
The forgotten art of governing the mind.
Everyone wants to be happy, yet most people seek happiness in the external world — in circumstances, possessions, and other people.
But happiness isn’t found in these things. Or if it is, it’s only temporary. The true source of happiness lies within us: in the way we think. But not just any kind of thinking. It’s thinking, not with the mind, but with the intellect.1
According to the language of ancient philosophy, Sanskrit, the faculty of thinking is called buddhi, intellect.
Unlike the mind, which rambles, reacts impulsively and later regrets, the intellect pauses, reflects, and considers the consequences before taking action.
Intellect is the forgotten, yet remarkable faculty that thinks clearly and cleverly.
It is our inner power to discern, reason, and make wise decisions.
While the mind thinks negatively and creates problems after problems, the intellect thinks positively and solves them.
It is often said that our thoughts determine the world we see. This means that if our thoughts are negative, then the world we see is negative; but if our thoughts are positive, we see a positive world.
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” — Wayne Dyer
Over a hundred years ago, philosopher William James suggested a simple fix for life’s frustrations. He said, “Choose one thought over another.” In other words, when negative thoughts come up, deliberately replace them with better ones.
Since then, psychologists and self-help educators have repeated this advice endlessly. We’re told to think positively, to swap negative thoughts with positive ones, and to develop a better attitude towards life.
There’s truth in this. Thoughts do shape our experience. A mind full of resentment and pessimism will inevitably lead to a troubled life. However, positive thinking alone is unsustainable because negative thoughts keep coming back — and sometimes even stronger than before.
The solution, therefore, lies in understanding the nature of the mind and intellect.
The Mind and Intellect
Most people assume that the mind is the organ of thinking. But if we observe carefully, we notice that the mind cannot think. It can only ramble from one thought to another — remembering the past, imagining the future, and often reacting emotionally to whatever is happening now.
Left to itself, the mind behaves like a two-year-old child. A child is emotional, excitable, easily distracted, and prone to tantrums. It cannot manage a household or make responsible decisions. For this reason alone, a child needs supervision.
The intellect plays the role of a loving parent. It watches and guides a child's actions, preventing it from getting into trouble and hurting itself.
Similarly, the intellect watches the mind, guides it, and keeps it from running into worry, anxiety, fear, anger, addiction, and despair.
When the intellect performs its role well, the mind becomes calm, balanced, and happy.
But when the intellect is absent, and the mind is left unsupervised, it’s like a child left alone in charge of the home.
No parent would say to a two-year-old, “Darling, mummy and daddy are going away for the weekend. Please take care of everything while we’re away.”
That would never happen. Yet it’s exactly what we do with ourselves. We allow our restless, immature minds to run the show.
The Non-Thinking Mind
As Albert Einstein once said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
Most people assume they are thinking clearly. But in reality, much of what we call thinking is simply the mind wandering from one thought to another.
The mind cannot think. It reacts. Worries. Imagines. Left unguided, it simply follows its feelings, preferences and emotions.
The intellect, however, is different. It is clear, focused, rational, clever and wise. When the intellect is strong, it guides the mind toward better choices in life.
The Thinking Intellect
So perhaps when William James spoke of choosing one thought over another, he was pointing to a deeper truth: we must allow our intellect, our sovereign power, to supervise and guide our restless mind. Then life becomes smoother, clearer, more peaceful and happier.
Like a wise ruler governing its domain, when the intellect governs our thoughts, everything falls into place — emotions settle, the body relaxes, and actions become measured and thoughtful.
In this natural order, a deeper sense of well-being emerges.
Change the way you think, and the world you experience changes. For the mind will not govern itself. It must be guided — and that responsibility rests with you.
Govern your mind, or your mind will govern you.
Thank you for reading. If you have any questions, feel free to write them in the comments.
Until next time, Be Well,
Meredith, The Elder Sage
Next week, an essay on horizontal versus vertical happiness, as touched on in the note below, will be delivered same time, same place.
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“Most people assume they are thinking clearly. But in reality, much of what we call thinking is simply the mind wandering… Left unguided, it simply follows its feelings, preferences and emotions. The intellect, however, is different. It is clear, focused, rational, clever and wise. When the intellect is strong, it guides the mind toward better choices in life.” -- many thanks for this wisdom, that the wisdom in Vedanta is that it is as much a philosophy, as the science of the art of living, of learning how the intellect can think clearly
Referring to the mind as an unruly toddler and our intellect as the guiding loving parent is such a brilliant comparison that I shall remember when I need to calm my mind down and flip my perspective. I was triggered yesterday for the first time in quite a while and I let my mind and ego get the better of me which I then beat myself up about but reading your words today was the exact reframe that I needed thank you. 🙏🏽