Lately there have been a wave of people who are studying ‘critical thinking’ which is the analysis of facts before forming a judgement. That’s okay when considering a difficult financial decision or planning a holiday cruise but when it interferes in everyday life like when to phone someone or if it’s better to go to take a shower in the morning or evening, then the purpose is foolhardy.
A friend of mine said ever since he was converted to the concept of ‘critical thinking’, he is a changed person. I told him that he wasn’t quite born-again but he was somewhat rehabilitated. Before that big change, this guy was more fun to be around. Since then, he analyses every sentence and lets it soak in before he responds, wasting seconds, as if heaven and hell depended on his answer.
Critical thinking is mentally stressful to review rational thoughts based on evidence to reach an answer. You can never think straight if everything is a matter of do or die. I said to my friend in a mild sort of critical way, “You were once a likeable guy but now you are so adamant about truth and nothing but the truth, you are a pain in the butt.” It took him nearly a whole minute for a comeback.
In everyday life critical thinking might help a soccer coach analyze the weaknesses of the opposing team or a police detective to evaluate evidence of a crime. Maybe yet, too little critical thinking can sometimes lead to inaction when action is needed. But to sacrifice the best part of your psyche to be always spot-on, without ever a compromise – no way! How could you ever see the big picture if every single thing is a matter of such importance?
Fortunately, psychology points to an alternative of this way, termed “the negative path to happiness.” A world-wide survey showed that citizens of more economically insecure countries often report greater happiness than citizens of wealthier ones like Canada. Some philosophers suggest, “If you fear to lose what you have” and we have quite a lot to fear losing but in third world countries with little to lose, “They haven’t the same fear of losing it.” Or as Aristotle said, “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
Researchers know that peoples’ desire to present themselves in a positive light may lead them to understate socially undesirable behaviours and overstate socially desirable behaviours. When I was married and living in Toronto, my Ex and I were wage competitive and at some point she did earn more. It bothered me until I was able to get a promotion then earn more than her once again.
An ‘excellent thinker’ compared to a critical thinker has the ability to see the humor in situations. Self-deprecating humor is pretty commonplace. It’s easy to pull off, and no one can be offended, because you’re only disparaging yourself. It’s a great way to look humble and witty at the same time, and a self-deprecating joke makes everyone around you feel that much better about themselves. This style of humor is a knack for selling themselves short because doing the opposite makes them look arrogant. We’re all pretty much in agreement that being humble is nobler than being boastful, right? It’s just the polite thing to do.
Stoic philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome, say that sometimes the best way to address an uncertain future is to focus not on the best-case scenario but on the worst case. Even modern psychology suggests that darker thoughts can make us happier. The holiday season is thought to be joyful yet the strenuous effort to be joyous seems to make many of us miserable by trying to stay civil for days on end with relatives who stretch your patience.
A true critical thinker is going the way of the dodo bird. Many people simply do not have the time or energy to dissect and quantify the sheer amount of data floating around. When you find one of these dodo birds, try to save him or her from extinction.
A true critical thinker is going the way of the dodo bird. Many people simply do not have the time or energy to dissect and quantify the sheer amount of data floating around. When you find one of these dodo birds, try to save him or her from extinction.
