Rethinking

Notes

Claim

To rethink means to reevaluate what you thought you know and reach different conclusions, this is different than just "thinking more" about a subject, and it's perhaps one of the most difficult things to do because it requires us to admit that we were wrong.

Explanation

It's more than just having the capabilities of reaching a good conclusion, it's the openness to initiate the process.

The more our identity is tied to what we had believed or done, the harder it is to change it. To rethink something requires Humility is acknowledging limits of knowledge and fallibility to accept that we made a mistake, and be with an open mind like a researcher Empirical testing not reason alone discovers truth, to reexamine what we believe in, knowing that everything is true up until it is proven false, and to be ready to reform a new theory based on that.

Why it matters

It requires us to abandon what we think we already know as to not be limited by it. Usually our ways of thinking match certain Problems, which means we will always offer the same type of solution. Rethinking means to switch to a different viewpoint to allow different ways of solving the same problem.

The first step for rethinking is always to take a Break, and slow down.

If rethinking involves beliefs and values, this can often trigger a moment of Critical moments force examination of identity and belief.

Examples

For example, firefighters in a large fire were told to drop their tools so that they could run for their lives, yet many kept them with them because of their long training that drilled into them the importance of tools, only for them to suffer the consequences of running slower.

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Open questions

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