Lisa as a Thinking Coach

January 20, 2025 Lisa No Comments

Lisa, an AURELIS-inspired coaching tool, is designed to enhance thinking processes by blending clarity with depth. By dynamically alternating between conceptual and subconceptual modes, Lisa empowers users to explore challenges holistically, fostering inner growth and practical progress.

Lisa’s approach in this reflects the principles of relieving suffering and fostering growth, central to AURELIS, and brings transformative potential to the realm of coaching.

The science of thinking

Human thinking operates on two interconnected levels:

The conceptual mode involves structured reasoning and logic. It’s what we use to analyze problems, plan steps, and make decisions. This process is mainly grounded in brain regions like the prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex, which work together to provide clarity and focus.
On the other hand, the subconceptual mode delves into intuition, creativity, and emotion. This deeper layer taps into vast, non-conscious patterns, often producing sudden insights or profound clarity during seemingly unrelated moments, such as a quiet walk. Brain areas like the limbic system and temporal lobes support this non-linear, dynamic process.

Crucially, the brain isn’t a rigid machine. Its intentional messiness – overlapping functions and flexibility – makes it robust and adaptable. This dynamic interplay allows for seamless shifts between logical analysis and intuitive insight.

Lisa’s role as a facilitator of alternation

Lisa excels as a facilitator, recognizing when a coachee is stuck in either conceptual overanalysis or intuitive vagueness. Through gentle, non-coercive guidance, she nudges users toward balance, fostering the natural alternation of modes.

For instance, if a coachee is overwhelmed by analytical thinking, Lisa might introduce a visual exercise, tapping into the subconceptual mode to uncover hidden motivations. Conversely, when emotions dominate, Lisa helps anchor insights into practical, conceptual steps. This dynamic process not only resolves immediate challenges but also develops mental flexibility for long-term growth.

Coaching applications: relieving suffering and fostering growth

Lisa’s approach combines these modes to address both suffering and growth.

Relieving suffering: Subconceptual exploration can reveal emotional patterns underlying pain, while structured reasoning helps organize and articulate solutions. For example, mindfulness exercises guide users toward emotional clarity.
Fostering growth: Subconceptual creativity inspires breakthroughs, which structured planning transforms into actionable progress. The result is a harmonious integration of deep insights with practical achievement.

This synergy reflects AURELIS’s commitment to inner transformation through rationality and depth.

Lisa’s flexibility shines in diverse scenarios:

Career decisions

A coachee struggling to choose between stability and creativity might start with a conceptual pros-and-cons list, then explore a subconceptual visualization: “What does life feel like in each role?” This alternation aligns practical decisions with emotional clarity.

Overcoming creative blocks

A writer stuck in logical planning might engage in freewriting or storytelling (subconceptual), followed by conceptual refinement of ideas into structure.

Managing stress

Lisa helps categorize tasks (conceptual) and pairs this with mindfulness exercises to relieve emotional tension (subconceptual).

Relationship conflicts

Lisa encourages users to visualize their partner’s perspective (subconceptual) and then develop clear communication strategies (conceptual). This fosters empathy alongside practical action.

Goal setting

Visualization exercises help users connect with their aspirations, which are then structured into specific, actionable goals.

These examples highlight Lisa’s ability to adaptively integrate modes, ensuring coachees feel both supported and empowered.

Example Coaching Interaction

User: “I feel stuck trying to analyze this problem logically.”
Lisa: “Let’s step away from logic for a moment. Imagine the problem as a scene in a movie—what stands out to you?” (Subconceptual shift to tap into intuition.)
Lisa (later): “That image you mentioned is insightful. How could you describe it in terms of your original goal?” (Conceptual return to align intuitive insights with practical objectives.)

Underpinning philosophy: AURELIS principles

Lisa’s design embodies AURELIS values, including:

Non-coercive change: Lisa invites exploration without imposing solutions, allowing inner transformation to emerge naturally.
Integration of rationality and depth: Conceptual clarity and subconceptual authenticity work together, fostering a balanced approach.
Compassion: Relieving suffering and fostering growth are inseparable, as explored in “Two-Sided Compassion.”

Empowering self-coaching

Beyond one-on-one coaching, Lisa teaches users to recognize when they are stuck in one mode and shift to its complement. By modeling this alternation, Lisa nurtures self-reliance and mental agility, empowering users to adopt this approach independently.

Lisa’s way

Lisa as a Thinking Coach is a powerful example of how dynamic alternation between conceptual and subconceptual modes can transform thinking processes. By relieving suffering and fostering growth, Lisa embodies AURELIS’s ethos of combining rationality and depth.

This approach isn’t just about solving problems — it’s about cultivating adaptability, creativity, and inner strength for a more fulfilling life. With Lisa, the journey of thinking becomes a path to deeper understanding and meaningful progress.