Reflecting on the Assumptions Underlying Ideas & Actions The Power of Thinking Reflecting on the Assumptions Underlying Ideas & Actions Professor Robert Palmer M.Div, MSOL, intj rpalmer@irsc.edu Professor_Palmer@comcast.net Blog: Professorpalmer.wordpress.com Twitter: @ProfessorPalmer

Introduction: Thinking & Words Words Have Meaning Language provides meaning & context Self-Talk is critical to your well being

15 Words That Say Nothing At All Word Choice 15 Words That Say Nothing At All Amazing Great Awesome Hard Boring Incredible Cool Interesting Exciting Nice Extraordinary Terrific Fun Wonderful Good 12 Persuasive Words You Results Love Money Health Discovery Save Easy Proven New Safety Guarantee

Group Activity What is Thinking? Create a definition of thinking Creative Writing: Make up a story on thinking, using as many persuasive words as possible

Not Thinking Well Because we do not think well, we do not generally question our thinking. Because we do not think well, we are often unable to accomplish our purposes at work. Because we do not think well, we are often unable to follow through on the implications of our potential decisions. Because we don't think well, we often create problems for others and ourselves. You think of one: _____________________________________. What is the one thing that all successful people have in common? Good Thinking. Whether we recognize it or not, thinking is the most significant determinant of the quality of our lives (http://www.criticalthinking.org/professionalDev/business.shtml). Thinking is so much a part of the human experience that it is virtually impossible to imagine a human being separate from thinking. Because we do not think well, we do not generally question our thinking. Rather we tend to live with the notion that our thinking is fine, thank you very much. (And this is even true when the quality of our lives is poor). But many, if not most, of the problems in our lives directly arise from problems in our thinking. Because we continually think, we take for granted the phenomenon of our "thinking." Not only do we take the fact that we think for granted, but we also tend to assume that the individual thinking that we do basically works well for us. Because we do not think well, we are often unable to accomplish our purposes at work. Because we do not think well, we are often unable to follow through on the implications of our potential decisions. Because we do not think well, we often create problems for others and ourselves.

Quotes Life consists of what a man is thinking about all day -Ralph Waldo Emerson Nurture great thoughts, for you will never go higher than your thoughts -Benjamin Disraeli

Types of Thinking Conceptual Problem Solving Decision/ Judgment

A Cognitively Complex Person is … Better able to take the perspective of others More persuasive Able to deal with ambiguity

Group Exercise

Understand the Value of Good Thinking 1. Good Thinking Creates the Foundation for Good Results. Poor thinking produces NEGATIVE progress Average thinking produces NO progress Good thinking produces SOME progress Great thinking produces GREAT progress 2. Good Thinking Increases Your POTENTIAL 3. Good Thinking Produces MORE Good Thinking IF… You Make It a Habit It is “thinking” that holds the power to human life. Yet most of us are held hostage by our thinking. Most of us have no idea what our thinking is doing (to us or for us). Most of us are not capable of explicitly analyzing our thinking. Therefore most of us are unable to systematically find flaws in our thinking. We are trapped by the workings of our own minds. Yet our thinking need not trap us. We have a choice. Every day we do not take charge of our thinking we make the choice to lead limited lives. Every day we do not take charge of our thinking we make the choice to be victimized by the inadequacies in our thinking (http://www.criticalthinking.org/professionalDev/business.shtml). Why You Should Embrace the Value of Good Thinking: Good Thinking Creates the Foundation for Good Results Poor thinking produces negative progress. Average thinking produces no progress Good thinking produces some progress Great thinking produces great progress Good Thinking Increases Your Potential Good Thinking Produces More Good Thinking IF… You Make It a Habit Unsuccessful people focus their thinking on survival Average people focus their thinking on maintenance Successful people focus their thinking on progress

Understand the Value of Good Thinking Unsuccessful people focus their thinking on SURVIVAL Average people focus their thinking on MAINTENANCE Successful people focus their thinking on PROGRESS It is “thinking” that holds the power to human life. Yet most of us are held hostage by our thinking. Most of us have no idea what our thinking is doing (to us or for us). Most of us are not capable of explicitly analyzing our thinking. Therefore most of us are unable to systematically find flaws in our thinking. We are trapped by the workings of our own minds. Yet our thinking need not trap us. We have a choice. Every day we do not take charge of our thinking we make the choice to lead limited lives. Every day we do not take charge of our thinking we make the choice to be victimized by the inadequacies in our thinking (http://www.criticalthinking.org/professionalDev/business.shtml). Why You Should Embrace the Value of Good Thinking: Good Thinking Creates the Foundation for Good Results Poor thinking produces negative progress. Average thinking produces no progress Good thinking produces some progress Great thinking produces great progress Good Thinking Increases Your Potential Good Thinking Produces More Good Thinking IF… You Make It a Habit Unsuccessful people focus their thinking on survival Average people focus their thinking on maintenance Successful people focus their thinking on progress

Realize the Impact of Changed Thinking Changed Thinking is NOT AUTOMATIC Changed Thinking is DIFFICULT Changed Thinking is WORTH THE INVESTMENT Changed Thinking is A GIFT FOR OTHERS Changed Thinking is not automatic Changed Thinking is difficult Changed Thinking is worth the investment Changed Thinking is the best gift you can give others

Changing Your Thinking Changing Your Assumptions Changes Your Beliefs Changes Your Values Changes Your Perceptions Changes Your Behavior

Quote Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself -Leo Tolstoy

How to Become A Good Thinker Expose Yourself to Good INPUT Awareness: The realization of what is going on (around you and to you). Expose Yourself to Good THINKERS CHOOSE to Think Good Thoughts ACT on Your Good Thoughts 2 Critical Areas of Input Personal/Professional Development Training/Education/Classes/Seminars/Conferences People Positive, Energized Expose Yourself to Good Input 2 Critical Areas of Input Personal/Professional Development Training/Education/Classes/Seminars/Conferences People Positive, Energized Awareness includes: Attitude Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Expose Yourself to Good Thinkers Choose to Think Good Thoughts Act on Your Good Thoughts To Do List Organizer Seek Opportunities

Quote Our ability to think, and to think more effectively will determine the quality of the future we create -Edward de Bono

Discover the Joy of Creative Thinking Creative Thinking Adds VALUE to Everything Creative Thinking COMPOUNDS Creative Thinking Draws People to YOU and YOUR Ideas Creative Thinking Helps You LEARN More Creative Thinking Challenges the STATUS QUO Creative Thinking Adds VALUE to Everything Creative Thinking COMPOUNDS Creative Thinking Draws People to YOU and YOUR Ideas Creative Thinking Helps You LEARN More Creative Thinking Challenges the STATUS QUO

References http://debonogroup.com/. Retrieved on August 22, 2005 De Bono, E. (1999). Six thinking hats. Boston: Little, Brown, & Co. Maxwell, John C. (2003). Thinking for a change: 11ways highly successful people approach life and work. Warner Books: New York. http://www.mindtools.com/. Retrieved on August 22, 2005 Allen, Steve (1998). Dumbth, the lost art of thinking. New York: Prometheus Books. Brookfield, S.D. (1987). Developing critical thinkers: challenging adults to explore alternative ways of thinking and acting. CA: Jossey-Bass. Bensley, Alan D. (1998). Critical thinking in psychology: a unified skills approach. Boston: Brooks/Cole. Reece, B. L. and Brandt, R. (2003). Human relations: principles and practices (5th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.