Critical thinking

We constantly succumbs to lost direction and moving around the circle or will be unlikely to achieve our full potential in life if we are to take critical thinking for granted. Not only we need to practice critical way of thinking, but at the same time must think accurately and clearly to guide us for insightful and right decision. Few simple and rather useful tips will help us to familiar ourselves how to make it second nature to us:-

1. Learn to identify and know how to separate facts from information.
2. Only spend time with the facts, just filter those relevant facts.
   
3. Irrelevant facts should be filtered out fast to save time.
4. Always cool by not over-react to something and an act of exaggerating is no no in critical thinking which supposed to be accurate, clear and concise.
5. Avoid yourself from trapped into gossip as almost of the time it is false.
6. Making conclusion or wrapping up only when you have enough evidence, else revisit your conclusion.
7. Don't sit down on your laurel - keep asking and questioning all angles including your own thoughts and ideas.If you confident on your ideas and thoughts, then you may proceed to focus on them.
8. Else, repeat the whole steps above...

Why vs. What

It is become second nature for us to ask "why?" instead of "what?" when something not quite right happen to us. "Why" seems to be our common natural respond to our surrounding. I can say it is one of the FAQs. Regardless of which tendency you fall into, there is nothing wrong with asking either one. However, there will be a different results may emerge. Let's see one by one.

"Why" - is the term of seeking to understand things and surroundings especially among the children. We even experienced the same curiosity when we are still young like them. The only drawback is "why?" fails to assist us in looking for permanent solution(s) to issues or challenge(s). Instead, we tend to be trapped into unending search for clues with questions such as why did this... and why did that... why aren't I successful? The more we ask why the more we keep reasoning and would never find the answers.

Ask "what?" will help us in gathering better facts and answer to solve issues or challenges facing us. "What" will produce wisdom questions and answers instead of reasoning. It will guide us to move with the right resources because we are more clear about what we need.

On top of these two very famous "why" and "what", we also always asking common questions such as "who", "when", and "how". All these questions can be classified into 3 categories:

• "Who?", "When?" and "How?" are for information gathering.
• "What?" is for solution and wisdom - e.g What do I need in facing this toughest moment in my life? What it takes to be successful in my business? What kind of training and support do I need to upgrade myself in my existing career?
  
• Unfortunately, for "why?", it always make us end up with just the question. There is no certain answer to satisfy us.