Have you ever taken the time to think about thinking? Thinking in its basic definition is the action of using one’s mind to produce thoughts, so is fair to say that everybody thinks. “But much of our thinking left to itself is based on recall of remembered and memorized information” according to Ben E. Johnson in his book Stirring up Thinking.

Being that the case, why are some people capable of making choices that help them create the life they desire as supposed to others? For these people is not enough to think, it comes down to the quality of thought and how they make decisions.  One skill that can help you make better choices in life is becoming a critical thinker.

Critical thinking can be explained as the ability manifested by the human being to analyze and evaluate information regarding a specific topic while aiming to discern the truth of the information until a justified conclusion can be reached regarding that subject while avoiding possible blind spots.

When I first learned about this ability, I was both surprised that I haven’t heard much about it until adulthood and overwhelmed because the list of skills to become an adept critical thinker is bast, so in this article, we’ll be diving into two areas that you can start practicing right away to get you started in the right direction

Become a great observer

While this concept may at first seem self-explanatory, the truth is that the majority of us underestimate its importance. Too often we are running on automatic pilot and therefore not paying attention to what’s happening around us. A person may see his/her surroundings daily and never really observe them. Being a good observant requires you to absorb the information with your senses to see and feel what’s around you.

Imagine doing one thing that will help you increase your ability to problem solve, be more creative, become a better listener and ultimately help you obtain relevant information to make better decisions. Count me in!

Two components will help you learn more about it, the first one is to assess where you are at the present moment, and the second makes a conscious decision to start absorbing every situation that comes your way. Please be patient with yourself and enjoy the process of uncovering the world with new eyes.

Get really good at asking questions

Have you ever come across people that know exactly what to ask? When they do you tell yourself,  that is a great question, why didn’t I think of that? It almost feels as if these people are in-tune with the situation and naturally flow to get to the point they are after. Is valid to say it could be a natural talent, but more often than not is a skill that has been learned.

Depending on how you experienced asking questions while growing up, you may have integrated it as something negative. For example, if you asked a question, and you were mistreated or bullied for doing so, you may be afraid to ask questions that could recreate a similar sensation, hence staying quiet when you have a very valid point of view regarding a subject.

Since we’ve all had different interpretations of this concept, let’s look at it from a neutral perspective. The Webster dictionary defines it as “an action to obtain information”. When is reframed in this matter is easier to start exploring and put it into practice. How can you start exercising it effectively?

• The first thing to keep in mind is to have a clear purpose of what you are going after
• Then, get familiar with the different types of questions, to figure out the right ones to ask. Let’s say you are wanting to get more clarity on a situation, in this case, you can consider questions starting with: when, where, how. Another example would be if you seek to understand the purpose of something, consider asking directly: What do I want to achieve? If you are feeling stuck with ideas there are articles online that speak specifically about this topic and can become very useful.

Ultimately the idea is not to interrogate others or ask for the sake of asking, stay curious, and pay attention to what’s being said, you’ll be amazed at the things you start to uncover.

Learning to think critically will take practice, however, the rewards of this ability will positively impact your life as you start to make educated decisions for yourself and those around you, avoid common mistakes, make better choices and create new opportunities that are aligned with your heart’s true desires.

Certain traits define us as a human race and one of them is our emotions. Despite our origins or age, we all experience them throughout our lives. While some cultures feel comfortable displaying a wide range of emotions and are accepted or sometimes expected; others censored them to the point that they become numb to their existence. Regardless of the case, there is an essential aspect that is often overlooked-perhaps due to a supposed familiarity with them – and that is why they exist in the first place.

Loneliness is an emotion difficult to describe unless you have experienced it yourself. Even though many people will feel alone at some point in their lives, many endure isolation for years without speaking about it. The reason this silence may vary and can include fear of criticism rejection, or a lack of understanding of what’s happening with them.

Not being able to feel accepted or that you belong in a group is very painful. One of the outcomes for the person experiencing this situation is isolation. Surprisingly “just in the United States about sixty-million people feel sufficiently isolated” according to John T. Cacioppo and William Patrick in their book “Loneliness.” This is not to be taken lightly, as social isolation has many consequences that impact our health and overall well-being.

If you are reading this blog for you or someone you know, understanding more about the topic will give you a more compassionate perspective. Here are 5 things to consider:

1.-Loneliness doesn’t mean a lack of social skills or friends                                     When a person feels lonely, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they lack the skills to make or have friends. In my experience, someone can be in a room entirely surrounded by friends and family and yet feel totally alone. Hence the feeling is not proportional to the number of people that someone may have around.

2.-Not all interactions are equal
Loneliness usually comes as a result of not feeling connected to ourselves and those around us. The way each of us experiences fulfilling connections has its own unique combination. It’s
essential to spend time identifying and knowing your own personal preferences. If you already have a clear idea of what those choices are, great! If not, start
getting curious about the types of people you like to be with and their characteristics; who do you enjoy talking to? Who do you trust? Which topics do you feel most passionate about, and who can you share them with? The more you understand yourself, the easier it will be to create relationships where you feel loved and appreciated.

3.-It takes courage to break a pattern
Sometimes the fear of being criticized, embarrassed, or rejected is far greater than the pain to stay quiet tolerating isolation. The downside of this approach is that it blocks your innate ability to create the relationships you so deeply desire by not making yourself available. It  takes courage to overcome a situation where you feel trapped. The clearer you get on what you want, the easier it’ll be to take little steps towards breaking a habitual behavior, allowing a new one to arise.

4.-Loneliness and solitude are not the same
Loneliness is a painful emotion that feels debilitating, draining, and uncomfortable, resulting from separation. Solitude, on the other hand, is when someone chooses to be by them-self on purpose. Even though the person is alone, they won’t feel lonely, but instead connected at a deep level with themselves and enjoying the moment.

5.-Know when it’s time to look for help
To handle loneliness appropriately is vital to know what’s causing it. Suppose you have recently changed jobs, for example. In this case, it’s a different situation than if you often feel lonely or isolate yourself due to fear or any limiting belief. If the latter is the case is recommended to work with a professional that can help to uncover the root cause and provide a guide that will ultimately facilitate healing and the space to create healthy habits that are satisfying.

There are many reasons why we can feel lonely in our lives. However, living a life where we are accepted, loved, and nourished is our right. If you often find yourself enduring the heaviness of loneliness for longer than necessary, keep in mind that the benefits of challenging your beliefs are greater than your current circumstance.