The purpose of thinking is to understand our world as best as possible. Our minds have evolved to think so that we can better adapt to our environment and make smarter decisions on how to survive and live.
At a biological level, our thoughts are millions of neurons firing off in our brain. These brain cells working together represent concepts, language, and knowledge that arise in our consciousness.
A source of much conflict in today’s relationships is our inability to see things from another person’s viewpoint.
However, by practicing a technique called “perspective-taking,” we can learn how to better resolve these social conflicts. And by doing this, we can start building stronger relationships in our lives.
Often we go through awkward phases throughout our self-improvement.
An aspiring baseball player doesn’t think or feel like a baseball player the first time he steps up to the plate.
His body is not yet familiar with the mechanics. His stance is awkward. His swing is awkward. He doesn’t exactly understand all the rules of the game.
Black and white thinking can be the cause of many problems in our life.
I remember a time when I was very depressed, and looking back, I can now see how my absolutist views were a big reason I couldn’t get out of the rut I was stuck in for so long.
As we age we often become stuck in old routines and habits. In many ways, our growth stagnates. We begin to stick with what is familiar – whatever is in our “comfort zone” – and often we become stubborn, resistant, and even afraid to expose ourselves to new things.