Cool Earth—Conscious Triangle

The diagram below shows the Cool Earth’s Conscious Triangle that symbolizes Consciousness of this type of character.

The Consciousness of Cool Earth or “Conscious Triangle”” occupies the area of a triangle, which vertices are located in the following points:

• Cool Earth,
• Dry Fire, and
• Wet Water.

In the above three points, there are the following states:

• Conscious States (point—Cool Earth),
• Strong Self-Esteem State or Power State (point—Wet Water or Dry Fire),
• Soft Self-Esteem State or Vulnerable State (point—Wet Water or Dry Fire).

Conscious State of the Cool Earth type

The Cool Earth’s Conscious State is at the point where is Cool Earth.

(Let me remind that the Conscious State is our main state. Therefore, the names of individual types in the Mandala of Characters take their names from the places where Conscious State is located).

When the Cool Earth is in Conscious State, then this type in its Conscious Triangle can contact with its Power or Vulnerable State.

Usually, when we are in the Conscious State, we connect with either Strong or Soft Self-Esteem State. However, it is also possible (to a greater or lesser extent) to connect to the two states at the same time.

Besides, it is fascinating that Strong and Soft Self-Esteem States are not always in the same place. It means, for Cool Earth type:

• In Strong Self-Esteem State (Power State), Cool Earth can move to both Wet Water and Dry Fire.
• Similarly, in Soft Self-Esteem (Vulnerable State), Cool Earth can move to both Wet Water and Dry Fire.

How this can be explained?

Cool Earth, under the influence of Power or Vulnerable State can behave similarly to the types: Wet Water and Dry Fire. That is, Cool Earth type then takes over some of the characteristics of these types. Specifically speaking:

• Cool Earth, under the influence of Power State, can show either the characteristics of Wet Water or the characteristics that Dry Fire has.
• Analogically, Cool Earth, under the influence of Vulnerable State, can show either the characteristics of Wet Water or the characteristics that Dry Fire has.

There are various situations in life when such conscious control of Power and Vulnerable States takes place. These are, for example:

• situations when we have to control ourselves to deal with some tasks, jobs, challenges, problems, issues, matters, etc.;
• situations when we want to make a very good impression on someone;
• situations when we want to do something that we care about, something we have to do, we need to have control over ourselves, etc.;
• and so on.

Then we consciously try to control our Power and Vulnerable States in this way that we do not succumb too much to them. This helps us to carry out various tasks and solve the problems that arise.

Generally speaking, then we have more control over our Consciousness, that is, “Conscious Triangle”, that is distinguished in the diagram above.

However, in life, it is often the case that all the time, we are not able to keep our Conscious State in the forefront and control other states. So, from time to time, our Power and Vulnerable States will play a major role in our psyche.

Advantage of Cool Earth’s Strong Self-Esteem State (Power State).

As I mentioned above, Cool Earth can have its Strong Self-Esteem State in two places:

• at the point—Wet Water, and
• at the point—Dry Fire.

Cool Earth’s Strong Self-Esteem State (Power State) at the point—Wet Water.

In this situation, Cool Earth succumbs too much to Power State, which is located at the point—Wet Water.

The extensive influence of Strong Self-Esteem State often makes Cool Earth type overconfident. Then this type can, for example:

• irrationally assess various tasks, situations, and problems;
• be very critical for others;
• feel better than others;
• allow ourselves to brake some roles and principles;
• be unceremonious and rough;
• etc.

Cool Earth’s Strong Self-Esteem State (Power State) at the point—Dry Fire.

In Power State, Cool Earth can also show the characteristics of Dry Fire. Then he or she may, for example:

• irrationally assess reality;
• think that she or he is unique and smarter than others;
• divide people into stupid and wise according to our own logic;
• believe that the way of life she or he is following, is the best;
• be small-minded;
• etc.

Advantage of Cool Earth’s Soft Self-Esteem State (Vulnerable State).

As for the Cool Earth’s Soft Self-Esteem State, it is analogical to the above-mentioned Strong Self-Esteem State.

Cool Earth, therefore, can have its Soft Self-Esteem State (Vulnerable State) in two places:

• at the point—Wet Water, and
• at the point—Dry Fire.

Cool Earth’s Soft Self-Esteem State (Vulnerable State) at the point—Wet Water.

In this situation, the Cool Earth succumbs too much to Vulnerable State, which is located at the point—Wet Water.

The extensive influence of Vulnerable State often makes Cool Earth just too uncertain and vulnerable. Then, she or he may, for example:

• irrationally assess various tasks, situations, and problems;
• be very critical for herself or himself;
• feel worse than others;
• do not allow for too much freedom, over-planning and over-organizing life;
• be too much agreeable and too much conciliatory
• etc.

Cool Earth’s Soft Self-Esteem State (Vulnerable State) at the point—Dry Fire.

In Vulnerable State, Cool Earth can also show the characteristics of Dry Fire. Then he or she may, for example:

• irrationally assess reality;
• think that she or he is average and less intelligent than others;
• consider herself or himself as not special and unremarkable;
• ignore good taste, style and custom;
• impose on herself or himself others’ life way to follow;
• etc.

Other ways of movement between psychological states

In addition to the possibilities mentioned above of moving between psychological states in Conscious Triangle, other combinations of moving from one state to another are possible. They are as follows:

1. Cool Earth can move between the Conscious State and Power State. And rarely move to Vulnerable State.
2. Cool Earth can move between Conscious State and Vulnerable State. And rarely move to Power State.
3. Cool Earth can move between Power and Vulnerable States. And rarely move to Conscious State.

The above three possibilities of moving between our psychological states, and possibilities I mentioned earlier in this chapter may occur, so to speak, automatically or unknowingly. Even though we try to stay in one psychological state, we still succumb to other states, often against our conscious will and efforts.

How can we deal with it?

This topic is very extensive, and I hope to develop it in future studies. Now, for a start, I think we can say that to have a greater impact on our psychological states, it is simply worth:

• Get to know our psychological states more and more.
• Strive to accept them as much as possible.
• Consciously maintain an impact on our psychological states. That is, when we are in Power or Vulnerable State, we at the same time maintain contact with our Conscious State.
• Try to use more and more potential which all our psychological states have.

The balance between psychological states in the Cool Earth’s Conscious Triangle.

We need all psychological states. If only to keep our psyche in balance and, generally speaking, in good mental health.

The above statement that “we need all psychological states”, at first glance, may seem not entirely true. I am thinking here that we tend to believe that we need to strengthen our Strong Self-Esteem State (Power State), and it is better to avoid the Soft Self-Esteem State (Vulnerable State). Such a belief may be due, for example, to the fact that we have met with many tips, advice, and training, whose goal was to boost our Self-Esteem. Also, these tips and training were to help us to achieve various kinds of successes in life.

If we are too uncertain and vulnerable, boosting our self-esteem can help a lot. However, if we trust too much our Strong Self-Esteem, or if our Strong Self-Esteem turns into overconfidence, then, it can often lead us to failure. This can be, among others, by misjudging ourselves or other people and misjudging the surrounding reality.

On the other hand, with regard to Soft Self-Esteem State (Vulnerable State), as I mentioned above, we may have heard that it is worth or we even should avoid it. Because Soft Self-Esteem State can bring us various failures, and even misfortunes and disasters. However, life is often not that simple. Whether we like it or not, Vulnerable State is an integral part of our psyche. So, at least from time to time, this state will accompany us.

Besides, it is not so that Vulnerable State only causes misfortunes. In many situations, Vulnerable State leads us to successes, because, for example, thanks to this, we have appropriate respect to the people around us. And we have respect for problems that arise in our lives. In addition, thanks to Vulnerability (or Soft Self-Esteem) we can often earn the trust and liking among people, because we are valued for modesty, accessibility, realism, rationalism, common sense, precaution, etc.

Then it is worth developing both Power and Vulnerable State. This can be done by continuously increasing participation of our Conscious State in these two States. That is, by increasing the connection (or communication) between states that we can find in Conscious Triangle.

It will be beneficial for our psyche when Conscious State, as the main psychological state, will, in a sense, take care of our Power and Vulnerable States. For example, make sure that Power and Vulnerable States will be able to develop. And thanks to this, we will be able to use in our lives the potentials of these states.

Jacek BŁACH