“The mind commands the body and it obeys. The mind orders itself and meets resistance.”
My understanding
This quote reveals the unique challenge of self-mastery. It’s easy to direct my body to act and it listens without question. Stand up -> Move. But when it comes to my own mind, it’s different. Telling myself to focus, stay calm, or let go of worries often meets resistance ⌧.
This idea reminds me of Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow, where he talks about two systems in the mind.
System 1 (fast, automatic, and intuitive) The fast and automatic side of the mind, is like an obedient servant. It reacts instantly, without much effort—almost like how the body obeys commands.
System 2 (slow, deliberate, and effortful) The slow and deliberate side, is where things get tricky. It’s the part of the mind that Herbert’s quote seems to address. It’s the effortful process of ordering ourselves to focus, avoid distractions, or make tough decisions.
This resistance happens because System 2 is energy-intensive and doesn’t want to work unless it has to. It’s the mental strain of trying to think deeply, make decisions, or control impulses.
This quote reminds me that true strength isn’t just about controlling actions. It’s about understanding the complexities of my own mind and learning to work with both systems to find balance and clarity.
