Status Updates From CRITICAL THINKING DAILY: 36...

Reframing is a bit of what I did with resumes. How you present your information shapes the outcomes. How information is presented to you can shape your decisions.

There are different kinds of biases and today was a reminder that overconfidence bias can lull us into a sense of security that is false.

Started Chapter 2 which is about Cognitive Biases - how the mind misleads itself. I do think a lot of the training and reading I've done over the past decade has me well-versed in these points, but I want to see how this book breaks it down and phrases things.

I'm seeing a lot of overlap in the foundational things taught in Critical Thinking Daily and my mindset as a BA as well as my personal drive to have a growth mindset. So far, this book has made me pause and revisit some known things through different lenses and reengage in other practices. It's also made me pause every day for some self-reflection, which is a good thing to do daily.

Sharpen through others: talking thoughts, ideas, problems, etc. through with other people helps you become better at considering alternate perspectives, options, solutions and not just live in an echo chamber of self-congratulation, agreement, and limited thought based on past experiences and biases.

Notice Emotions: Unwittingly did this exercise today, when I inventoried the type of tasks I avoid and dug into why. Hitting pause (the first lesson) to give space to respond to a conversation or incident rationally instead of from a place of knee jerk reaction takes conscious effort and practice. It isn't always comfortable work, but it is necessary work.

Ask better questions: once again, tapping into my BA mindset. Be thoughtful and probing in the questions you ask, instead of going down presumptive paths.

How meta to read about the value of writing and journaling, and then journaling about it! Glad to know I accidentally went back to doing a thing that's good for me and can make me a better critical thinker.

Start small - today was a reminder that critical thinking is the cumulative result of a series of building blocks that require training to strengthen into second nature. It will take work to train myself out of certain knee-jerk first thoughts. More importantly, I have to pause and reflect before I react on those thoughts. I think it's as important to be self-critical as it is to question & filter external info.

Signal vs Noise - filter out the nonsense and focus on what helps you understand, grow, be informed. This is great in a work setting or when looking at the news, etc. But the noise is what colors life and brings the human dimension into play. So I'd call this a skill you choose when to apply, because it's not always relevant.

Habits of Mind - as with all habits, critical thinking takes practice and repetition. It isn't a single action, but a system of smaller habits that are interconnected and build upon one another. It's important to exercise each of these habits regularly at any appropriate opportunity.

Listening as Thinking: today's lesson asks us to de-center ourselves from the listening act, to actually pay attention to not only what is being said but also how it's being conveyed and what the speakers motivations or intentions might be. This means you aren't just half listening while composing a reply based on your own assumptions. This is only I struggle with (ADHD!) & am actively working on improving my habits.

Set your baseline - funny how some of these sections are immediately connecting to my Business Analysis past. This one made me think of KPIs - you've got to know the patterns and KPIs of your behaviors in order to understand your baseline and make effective change.

Power of "I don't know" ... I wish there were actual examples of the significant breakthroughs based on this idea instead of just mentioning that there had been significant breakthroughs.

I've definitely played both the "I don't know" card and the pretend like you know the thing. You've got to be smart enough to know when to use which and where to draw the line on false understanding.

Critical thinking can be practiced in any aspect of life; it isn't limited to the professional sphere. The more you practice it, the better you get at it and the more second nature it becomes.

Doubt is another word for question. Doubt things so that you can have the clearest understanding of the situation/information/etc. before proceeding.
I like how these sections build on each other.

11: draw the line between fact and assumption, put assumption away, and work from a place of the known.

Another version of think before you speak. This one is some external and internal observation before reacting. Our initial reactions can be biased and judgmental. Taking a pause to notice and acknowledge the full picture allows us to give a more balanced reply or make better decisions.

Get out of the comfort zone of my echo chamber to really grow.

Fact v Opinion - today's section was less "profound", but not every building block in the foundation of being a critical thinker is going to be profound.

Daily Self-Audit - today's section encourages reflection and being mindful of how you've used your mind all day. Once you start the habit, you can build an understanding of your patterns and trends. Once you understand that, you can address the root cause and make changes. I'm going to use the question at the end as a journal prompt, though it'll take more than one entry (and some therapy!) to really dig into it.

Today's food for thought: question assumptions. This one would take more conscientious & practice, since humans are so prone to acting on the assumption without thought.

Today's section was the professional version of think before you speak. The timing is so exact, given my friendship situation with the DGs. All the things I'm reading, listening to, etc. point to me being "correct" and them being more "in the wrong". Not the point of the exchange, but it's highlighting that this equation no longer really serves me and I need to be ok to let it go.

Accidentally read Day 1 AND 2 in one go. These are truly micro sections that force deep thinking and introspection. I like!

I like the idea that this book opens with the "permission" that it's meant to be read at a slow pace and be a mindful, daily practice. Looking forward to seeing how this unfolds. Here's hoping it's not another mindless, throwaway, self-published book.