Do Ya Think?
Is there a right or a wrong way of thinking? Some would say there is – that if you don’t think like (or agree) with what they think or believe then you’re wrong, or worse, that you’re stupid.
It’s easy to be judgmental of others. Sometimes we’re conscious of our biases, yet many times we’re not. Regardless, it is something that none of us are entirely immune from doing.
So, maybe being right or wrong isn’t the only stance to take. Today’s problems are much too complex for that. Maybe a better question is: How much thought have you given to your current quandary, situation, or opinion? And, what might be different if some new information or perhaps a different way of thinking about your position was objectively (non-defensively) taken into consideration? Would new solutions be possible? Would more constructive conversations take place?
Keep in mind, too, that this isn’t necessarily about spin (e.g., to sway an opinion one way or another) but is about taking into account additional honest truths not necessarily evident from all perspectives.
Why does it even matter? One often cited quote in this regard is: ”We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” ~Albert Einstein
Some criticize and blame our current educational system, citing that reforms are needed and that schools need to go back to putting more emphasis on teaching critical thinking skills.
What if we don’t need to wait for the school systems to be reformed in order to improve our critical thinking skills? What if it’s not just our youth but also our adults and today’s professionals that need to improve their critical thinking skills?
What if we decided to already now start taking responsibility for thinking more broadly and deeply for ourselves? How might that change our problems, our perceived limitations, and the potential solutions we could find for them?
