Written by: Sallie Wagner, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
According to Bob Proctor, “[t]hinking is an unusual activity for many people...most of us mistake mental activity for thinking. Mental activity is not thinking...” We all like to think that we think. But do we? How about you? Where do you fall on the scale of mental activity v. thinking? How much mental activity do you engage in that isn’t actually thinking?
All that time we spend internally replaying old movies of past events. Rehearsing future conversations that will never happen. Contemplating plans for tomorrow, next week, next month...
Taking that idea further, for those of us who actually do think, consider that we may not always think critically.
Again, we all like to think that we think. And we all like to think that we think critically. But ...again...do we?
And how do we know? How do we distinguish between mere thinking and critical thinking?
Here’s how.
“Thinking” is when we make decisions by reasoning or reflecting on facts and circumstances. Sounds pretty good, right? You’d think so, and you’d be wrong.
Because this type of thinking is implicit, it’s thinking in ways we’ve always thought, not questioning the process itself, of thinking. Reminiscent of the unexamined life that Socrates warned against.
By contrast, ”critical thinking” is an actual explicit discipline, a life practice, by and through which we question the process of thinking. We approach the process with curiosity, without bias. We monitor the process of thinking, and we correct that process when it’s imprecise.
Like the concept of mindfulness, where you notice what you’re noticing, but with a slight twist, critical thinking is not only thinking about what you’re thinking about – that’s just another way of expressing mindfulness. Critical thinking is thinking about HOW you’re thinking.
Yet, mindfulness is a critical piece of critical thinking. You must be mindful of the process of thinking in order to think critically.
You may be thinking...that’s all interesting, but why does it matter?
Just reflect on current events on the world stage. Reflect on relationships at work and at home. Reflect on everyday life.
Is it possible that many of those failures in communication and understanding that we see in all areas of life might be avoided if we were not “thinking” on autopilot if we were not thinking in ways we’ve always thought? If we were, instead, engaged in critical thinking?
Absolutely!
Critical thinking is critical because it empowers us to avoid the mental prisons, the mental traps we allow ourselves to get into.
Traps like mind reading, projection, cognitive dissonance, confirmation bias, and many more.
And when we avoid those traps, we increase our level of understanding. We communicate more efficiently and effectively, more precisely. And relationships improve – at all levels.
Critical thinking is also critical because our thoughts affect us at a cellular level, even down to the DNA level. Our thoughts result in a cascade of chemicals in our bodies and brains – cortisol, oxytocin, dopamine, for example.
Those chemicals affect our health. They expose and predispose us to inflammatory disease and other ills.
Those chemicals also result in emotions, certain feelings, depending upon the particular chemical.
And we make decisions based on our feelings, our emotions. Then, afterward, we find the “reasons” to support those decisions.
When we accept this premise that we make decisions based on emotions, we may be tempted to conclude that thinking skills don’t matter. After all, if we’re just acting on emotions, what difference does it make whether we think critically or not?
Consider this progression:
Thoughts determine feelings.
Feelings determine decisions.
Decisions determine actions.
Actions determine results.
Results reinforce thoughts.
When we follow this progression that thoughts determine feelings and then factor in the premise that feelings/emotions are the basis of our decisions, it becomes apparent that we can impact our decisions by changing our thinking because thinking determines our feelings.
You see how important critical thinking is?!
So, again, consider this question: Where do you fall on the scale of mental activity v. thinking? How much mental activity do you have that isn’t actually thinking?
Do you have true critical thinking skills? Or is it time to tighten them up?
If you’re not sure, simply look at your decisions. About your job, career, school, relationship, the things you buy, the things you eat, and so on.
Are you happy with all those decisions? Are you happy with the results you’re getting because of those decisions? Would you like the opportunity to make different decisions and get different results?
Then change your thinking!
Develop your ability to think critically. Refuse to take on the assigned opinions of the various groups you belong to, whether it’s a particular faith, cultural heritage, political persuasion, age group, or anything else. Think critically about the opinions you have.
Ask yourself, do you really believe those things? Or have you accepted them because your group told you that’s what you’re supposed to believe?
Are those things truly important to you? Or are they important because somebody told you they’re supposed to be important to you?
As you understand how critical thinking is, you can begin to explore the various mental prisons that keep you from doing it.
You can begin to reverse engineer the sub-optimal results you see in your life and change them to get the results you want!
First, examine the actions that led to those results. Next, examine the decisions that led to those actions. Next, examine the feelings that led to those decisions. Next, examine the thoughts that led to those feelings. And finally, change those thoughts.
When you change your thoughts, you change your feelings. When you change your feelings, you change your decisions. When you change the decisions, you change the actions. When you change the actions, you change the results. When you change the results, you reinforce the new thoughts.
That is the process, and the value, of critical thinking.
So, which will it be? Mental activity or critical thinking?
You decide!
Sallie Wagner, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Sallie Wagner – speaker, author, lawyer, real estate broker, What’s Next Strategist, and Life Alchemist! Sallie employs Emotional Freedom Techniques, evolved Neurolinguistic Programming, and trauma-aware modalities, so clients launch into action for rapid, concrete results, as they ditch unwanted habits, behaviors, fears, phobias, limiting beliefs, and decisions.
Sallie spent the majority of her law career in the corporate world. In addition to her other business initiatives, she currently provides broker and contracts compliance services to real estate brokerages throughout Florida. She also owns and operates a real estate school.
