Happy Brain
As I reflected on the nature of human life, a curious thought crossed my mind: What makes a brain happy, and why? I had never quite considered the brain in this way before. But as I opened myself to this line of inquiry, I came to a deeper realization—so much of human suffering stems from the fact that our brain can become traumatized, distressed, and unhappy. Unlike the rest of our body—our heart, lungs, liver, and other organs—which function in the present moment and are at full in sustaining our life, the brain is unique. It alone dwells on the past, worries about the future, and can become anxious or fearful by imagined or anticipated events that may never even occur.
To explore what contributes to a happy brain, we must first understand the nature of the brain itself and the kind of fuel it requires. Physically, this fuel comes from the nutrition we consume. Electrically, it comes from the thoughts we process and the stimuli we absorb through our senses—what we see, hear, and experience. The brain functions within an electrical realm and works in tandem with the mind. While the mind is intangible, the brain is physical, animated by electrical signals supplied by our five senses and from the mind itself. In many ways, the mind might be described as the soul of the brain.
Common phrases about the mind offer insight into its nature. We speak of being “absent-minded” or having “presence of mind.” Someone can be “out of their mind,” or we might describe something as “mind-blowing.” To catch someone’s attention, we might exclaim, “Mind out!” These expressions highlight how the mind is more abstract and dynamic, while the brain is rooted in the physical. One doesn’t say “brain out!” or “I will give you such a piece of my brain if you don’t mind your manners!”—the distinction is clear. The brain is the physical structure through which the mind perceives, processes, and expresses.
The mind, then, can be understood as electrical in nature, providing the currents that animate the brain. When we think, it sends electrical charges through neural pathways, influencing our mental states—our “states of mind.” So what is the relationship between the quality of our thoughts and the happiness of our brain? A few days ago, I was driving and listening to the radio when a nutritional psychiatrist came on air, discussing the kinds of nutrients that support brain health. The focus was largely on diet—on the physical inputs we give our brain. Yet little was said about the electrical signals that also play a vital role: the mental and sensory inputs we provide through our thoughts and perceptions. Brain health relies not only on what we eat, but on the quality of our mental and sensory environment—what passes through our mind and into our neural circuitry.
Unlike the electricity in power outlets, the brain operates on much subtler forms of energy—currents shaped by our thoughts, feelings, and attention. The brain thrives on what can be referred to as the subtle energies of Creation. These energies range from high to low frequencies, depending on how we cultivate and use our mind. Consider the analogy of an electric stove. If we try to power it with a low-energy two-pin plug meant for a lamp, we might get the clock to work—but not the heating element. But take a large three-pin plug and insert it into a high-capacity socket with the proper voltage, and the stove operates at full power. Similarly, our brain functions best when it is powered by high-vibration electrical signals—thoughts and emotions that uplift, inspire, and align with higher frequencies. These energize and light up our brain and may lead to what some describe as an “enlightened mind.” In contrast, negative thought patterns—trauma, addiction, anxiety, or low self-worth—supply lower-energy signals that dim our mind and mentality.
If this is true, it reinforces an age-old truth: Be mindful of what you think about. Physical nourishment supports the brain’s structure, but its function and emotional wellbeing also depend on the vibrational quality of the electrical signals it receives. These come from our thoughts and from the external stimuli we allow into our consciousness.
The study of the energy worlds and consciousness suggests that a happy brain is one that runs on cool, continuous, high-vibration energetic signals. By contrast, emotions like rage, jealousy, or revenge produce an inflamed brain and leave us mentally overheated—“hot-headed,” as the saying goes. Just as a stove that is plugged into a proper power source can fulfill its purpose, a brain that is “plugged in” physically and energetically to higher-powered fuel can function more fully and at a higher level. Perhaps this higher fuel is a required precursor to the extraordinary kinds of brain development referred to in religious texts and concepts of expanded consciousness found in spiritual traditions—like the third eye or clairvoyance.
Thus, as a starting point in this exploration of what contributes to a happy brain, I recommend we begin by choosing to “make up our mind” to process higher-quality thoughts and impressions. By consciously choosing what we think about, and how we respond to the world around us, we influence the very energy that fuels our brain. And in doing so, we create the conditions for a brain that is not only healthier—but happier.
Two Minds
Do we have both a higher and a lower mind? In exploring the idea that the mind might be the soul of the brain, I’ve come to see that our mental functions could be divided into two distinct modes: one reactive and the other creative.
This distinction struck me even more clearly when I noticed that an anagram—reactive and creative share the same letters. Could that be more than a coincidence? Might it suggest that one part of our mind/brain is designed to be associative and rapidly respond to external stimuli, while another operates predominantly from within?
Take our senses, for example. Our eyes take in impressions before we even have the chance to say, “No, I do not want to see that.” We see before choosing what to look at. This quick, automatic part of the mind is often referred to in Eastern thought as the “monkey mind.” Use of the reactive mind does not involve deliberate thought or contemplation, but is reactive to whatever stimuli come toward it. It operates on old patterns, learned behaviors, and ingrained opinions. It’s efficient but limited, functioning through past associations, biases, and habits that it can produce with a minimum of effort.
Rather than dismissing or suppressing this egoic mind—egoic because it primarily responds with the existing programs and opinions that our identity is attached to—it is important to recognize its crucial role. This lower function of our mind/brain handles the vital logistics of life: finding our way from place to place, managing schedules, using technology, and making everyday decisions. Think of it as the executive mind, keeping things running smoothly. The challenge arises when this reactive mind dominates, leaving little room for the other function of our mind/brain system–the creative or intuitive mind. It is through the creative mind that we receive flashes of inspiration, moments of intuition, new contemplations, and new creative processes that may take us (and our reactive mind) by surprise. It is intuitive, visionary, and capable of producing profound insights. It’s the source of those “aha” moments—flashes of inspiration that arise not from calculation but from openness and being present.
Contrary to spiritual traditions that suggest we should eliminate the egoic executive mind, what we truly need is balance, making room for the creative mind to emerge, not by effort, but by allowing. This is where “downtime” comes in—not just rest, but intentional quiet that gives the reactive mind a break and lets the creative mind come online. Might the term “downtime” be interpreted as suggesting that a period of rest for the reactive mind facilitates a state of heightened activity or “uptime” for the creative mind?
In a culture that rewards constant ambition and busyness—an “A-type” mindset—our reactive mind is overstimulated. Yet, the most profound ideas often arrive when we’re doing something seemingly mundane—taking a walk, showering, or sitting in silence. These are the moments when the executive mind pauses, and the creative mind speaks, receiving new thoughts, contemplations, and intuition.
In the end, it’s not about choosing one mind over the other but about creating space for both to do their work. Let the reactive mind handle the management, structure, and routine, but keep a space reserved for that inner potent voice of our creative mind that brings new conceptions, nourishment, and possibilities when we make space for it to emerge and give it the opportunity to do so.