Q: "Why do we have phrases like "follow your heart," "gut instinct," etc? Why is it not listen to what your mind tells you?"
I think that we have these phrases to create balance. In society today, so much emphasis is placed on being practical., and "listening to what our minds tell us." Many people tend to make choices based on what is simple, what will make money, and what increases social status. The media seems to tell us that there is an equation to happiness that is composed mainly of money, sex, expensive cars/houses, and external beauty. In my opinion, this leaves little room for passion or individuality, but it seems to be in our nature to organize the concept of happiness into a step-process. Looking back on Plato and the greeks, reason was regarded as the most divine part of our nature. Having phrases like "follow your heart" remind us of our individual, less reasonable, thoughts and desires. They serve as a reminder for us to appreciate the simpler things in life, and to enjoy what we already have from our nature, rather than what our rational thoughts tell us is necessary. After all, we are all unique, and we all have different things that make us happy, aside from what the media depicts.
How might we define rational?
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