How We Think - Become Wise

First Steps

The first step is to use all of our senses to receive information. We must understand the information and that requires the next step – recognition. There is only one way to recognize a situation, and that is to compare what is going on to our past experience. This comparison is essential for understanding the situation and planning our response. Recognition is the foundation for the next step.

Judgement and Plan of Action

Next, based on our recognition, we make a judgment about the situation and
create a plan of action. This entire process happens very quickly, almost
automatically. We evolved for this speed, as it was crucial for our ancestors to react
to danger without hesitation.

Common Pitfalls In Our Thinking Process

While this rapid thinking usually serves us well, read below where thinking errors can easily creep in In fact, in our complex world the need for speed sacrifices accuracy to
create what is hoped to be an adequate response. Here are some common pitfalls in our thinking process:

Information
The data we receive might be wrong or incomplete, leading to an inaccurate understanding of the situation and flawed judgments and actions

Experience
During the recognition phase of our thinking, when facing unfamiliar situations, our brain predicts the best course of action based on similar past experiences. This is our mechanism to obtain an adequate decision as opposed to an accurate one. Imprecise comparisons can lead to incorrect actions and negative outcomes.

Complexity
Modern life presents situations far more intricate than simple “safe or unsafe” scenarios that our ancestors dealt with. Our brains struggle to process all the details quickly, and have to resort to shortcuts that sacrifice accuracy for speed. In effect, our brains try to pick out the important details from the deluge of available information.

Heuristics
These are experience-based rules of thumb that help us make quick decisions. While often helpful for efficiency, heuristics can also introduce biases, errors, and even lead to irrational choices.

Biases
While sometimes helpful in navigating complexity, biases are subconscious filters that affect how we process information. As examples, we tend to favour information received first or that aligns with our existing beliefs. This filtering can lead to significant errors in our thinking. Psychologists have identified well over one hundred different biases.

Let’s revisit what it means to be wise. At its core, it’s about making decisions based on the soundest judgment possible, informed by knowledge and experience.
Consider this: when an immediate, automatic thought pops into your head, how wise is that decision truly? By definition, it’s the least wise thought we can have, representing a quick, adequate response rather than a deeply considered one. We can always seek more accurate or complete information and better understand the potential consequences of our choices. Therefore, any effort we make to gain a more detailed understanding of a situation leads to a more sound, and thus wiser
decision than our initial gut reaction.

The Become Wise approach focuses on understanding where our reasoning can go astray and how to correct those tendencies. Ultimately, your journey of exploration
and careful consideration will lead to wiser actions.

Learn About Our Course

How We Think: A Simple Process, Potential Pitfalls

First Steps

Judgement and Plan of Action

Our Thinking Process

Common Pitfalls In Our Thinking Process