The Difference Between Intelligence and Intellect: A Balancing Act Between the Head and the Heart

Life is surely interesting today. I describe myself as a neutral person and the more I have grown spiritually, the more I realize the necessity of balancing the head and the heart.

As the world changes, it is quit apparent that intellect is the driver and motivation for ideological notions. Spiritually, I define intellect as “being in the head,” and intelligence “coming from the heart.” 

Intellect is facts. Intelligence is a feeling or wisdom that roots deep from within.  According to Psychology Today’s Intellect and Intelligence article, it states, “Intellect was seen to denote cognition—the rational mental processes that constitute ‘knowing’: the ability to identify and analyze, memorize, and categorize… the physical characteristics and implications of whatever thing or event is perceived by the senses, thus bringing one to comprehend the objective facts of the external situation. Intelligence, however, was regarded as a mental faculty in its own right—a function of consciousness taking one beyond the facts as such, to suggest meaning or purpose, and determine the course of action to be taken.”

Today, most decisions are based from one area without balancing the other. For example, people who challenge the world of science and question scientific results that match the donator’s business objectives are deemed anti-science. We see this with Monsanto research where people who put their “faith in science” believe consuming GMO’s is okay because Monsanto-funded research says so. People who question GMO’s know that nature becomes dysfunctional when artificial “things” disrupt the natural laws and growth of the environment. The people questioning the scientific results are tapping into their intelligence. 

A German YouTube commentator, Hanz Wilhelm, mentions in his “Life Explained” series that AI shouldn’t be labeled, “artificial intelligence, but rather artificial intellect” as there is no emotion attached to these “beings.” Robots aren’t intelligent, and they are made through the intellect.

As for emotions, people should not be confused to equate being emotional as intelligent. Some of the worst decisions are made from hyper-emotional mindsets. I’ve seen this with bleeding hearts that meet their soul mate and give up everything immediately to be with that person, only later to find themselves disappointed “because they followed their heart.” They didn’t take into consideration that this person is a human being living his or her own experience.

Intelligence is wisdom that roots back to spiritual teachings, the natural laws and God.  It’s our higher self. Intelligence balances reason and feelings.  Nature and it’s creatures live life via their own intelligence and language. The way a flower blooms, or the way a bee buzzes around town is based on it’s own system of intelligence. 

Our logical and spiritual consciousness also differs. Mundane consciousness is linear and logical. Non-linear consciousness is spiritual as it doesn't follow a logical path. You can read more on the following blog post, Understanding Linear (Mundane) Consciousness and Non-Linear (Spiritual) Experiences.

​I believe some of the best decisions are made from balancing the head and the heart, or essentially logic (science) and spirit (intuition). Logic ignites realistic points of view to decisions that are clouded with emotions. Over-emotional mindsets can lead to impulsive decisions and behaviors and the same goes for people whom are chronically in their head with logic and reason and have no spiritual grounding. Also, over-emotional individuals live life solely via feelings which may ignite an idealistic point of view where life "should, could or would be this way if...." Shoulda, woulda and coulda mindsets do not see reality for what it is. 

When needing to make an important decision, why not check in with your head and your heart? What is each organ communicating to you? What does your higher self say? How would you feel after making this decision? 

Some of the best decisions are made in the middle, and being in the middle balances the head and the heart, or our intellect and intelligence.

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