This is the day to … think through implications

The source for this material and for our 25-Day CT Challenge is… 25 Days to Better Thinking and Better Living: A Guide for Improving Every Aspect of Your Life, by Dr. Linda Elder & Dr. Richard Paul, Pearson, 2006; and the Center and Foundation for Critical Thinking, CA.

This is the day to think through implications… and consider consequences. “Notice the implications of what you say, [and] Look closely at the consequences of your actions.” (Drs. Elder and Paul, Ibid.)

Implications “Implications are the things that might happen if you decide to do this or that. “Consequences are the things that actually happen once you act.” (Ibid.)

Some people simply ignore consequences… Drs. Elder and Paul advise that “Some people simply don’t imagine what might follow when they act on a decision that they have made…they don’t recognize that everything they do has implications...and consequences.” Some people… Don’t exercise - unprepared for muscle deterioration Smoke - unprepared for possible lung problems Don’t actively develop their minds - unaware of increasing inflexibility and closed-mindedness that often comes with aging when not actively “working” the mind (Ibid)

“Critical, reflective thinkers… actively consider the implications of their actions before acting, and modify their behavior accordingly (before they experience negative consequences),” and… (Drs. Elder and Paul, Ibid.)

“…it is possible to make a habit of thinking through the implications…and thus learn to act more wisely, to live more rationally.” (in 25 Days to Better Thinking & … Ibid)

Questions you can ask …to target implications: If I decide to do X, what is likely to happen? If I decide not to do X, what will happen? What were the consequences when I/we made similar decisions before? (Elder & Paul, Ibid.)

…additional questions to help me target implications and consequences: What are the implications of ignoring this or that problem (in a relationship, in a specific incident, in life)? If I keep living in the present as I have in the past, what consequences will I likely face? (Elder & Paul, Ibid.)

Strategies – the authors suggest the following: Look at your life as a set of moment-by-moment options, X, Y, or Z; each and every act, and every pattern of actions, has outcomes. What outcomes do you want? What must you do to anticipate likely outcomes? When faced with a difficult problem, make a list of the likely implications of dealing with the problem, then act in the way likely to lead to the consequences you want. (Ibid)

…Strategies, cont’d: Think about the implications (health, happiness, etc) of the way you are now living your life. Make a list of the implications you probably will face for continuing to live as you are. Will you be satisfied with those consequences? Language is powerful and full of implications. Observe the language you choose to use when framing your thoughts. Note what is implied by what you say. Note how others react to what you say to them. Commit to carefully choosing your words before speaking to others. (Elder & Paul, in 25 Days to Better Thinking & …Ibid.)

This is the day to think through implications, and to consider the possible consequences.

Daily Reflection Notes Print the following slide, one copy for each day of this week, (remember to use “print current slide”). Reflecting and making some notes on your thoughts and experiences of the day help to internalize this “challenge”, as you know.

DAILY REFLECTION NOTES Today I was successful in using the following ideas/strategies: The key insights that emerged for me today were: One problem in my thinking that I now realize is: I plan to continue working on this problem using the following strategy: