Invisible Wisdom.
Navigating the Hidden Side of Human Instinct with Emotional Intelligence.
The human condition is a woven tapestry of intuition and reason, echoing the coexistence between primitive instinct and sophisticated thought .
1. Instinct: The Ancestral Guide
In the silent voice of instinct resides an instinctive master that governs more than survival decisions. Our primitive ancestor depended on this refined intuition to discern danger from safety, doubt from certainty. The Stoics encourage us not to dismiss this ancestral guide as primitive, but to embrace it as an ally. Epictetus would say: "It is not things that disturb us, but the perception we have of them." Instinct is our purest and most natural perception, without the filter of conscious biases.
2. Emotional Intelligence: The Inner Analyst
Emotional intelligence is the art of distinguishing between thoughts, passions, and intuitions. Mastery of these emotions, according to the teachings of Marcus Aurelius, shows us that "Our life is what our thoughts make of it." Achieving balance does not mean denying our instinct, but listening to it with the wisdom of a calm and trained mind, seeking meaning in its raw, unrefined messages.
3. The Symphony of Perceptions: A Dance Between Instinct and Reason
Our sensory perceptions — sight, hearing, smell — are constructed on clarity and often darken more than they illuminate. They provide data that instinct compiles into perceptions closer to the invisible truth. While navigating romantic relationships and daily challenges, instinct becomes a silent radar that detects what common perceptions do not reach. In this space of silence and introspection, we reconstruct the truth more faithfully to our inner reality.
4. The Importance of Observing Calmly: Stoic Resilience in the Face of Emotional Chaos
The modern wise person does not ignore their emotions but understands and uses them. Resilience in the face of chaos arises from the ability to observe what is beyond the reach of the eyes: to understand the invisible. It is not rare for others around us to say that we are confused, exaggerating, or wrong. Yet, the Stoics encourage us to maintain the moral courage and inner security that comes from commitment to our instincts shaped by a stable and considered mind.
Conclusion
The greatest gift we have received comes not only from the inquisitive and logical mind but also from the ingrained instinct and its relationship with emotional intelligence. Trusting this instinct, grounded in emotional discernment, is to trust in the natural development of one’s being. Thus, we honour the gift given to us by the cosmos, by God, and our unalterable connection with universal truth.
For it is through this interweaving of primitive and reflective wisdom that we truly position ourselves on our own journey. Remember that, amidst the overwhelming noise of the world, in a space of inner clarity, our instinct will always resonate, bringing with it the perception of what is implicitly true.
By: Patrick Vieira
