Wisdom is in part an attitude—an openness to possibilities and a willingness to learn in the moment and in hindsight. Those who are wise approach life from the perspective that solutions can often be found or created using existing knowledge and resources. Frequently it’s tacit knowledge that is most helpful. In situations where we don’t…
Continue reading →Reflection is essential—it’s how we discover what we think and what we know. At its simplest, reflection is a natural mental activity that occurs regularly and often involuntarily. It’s what we do while walking to the grocery store or waiting for an appointment. Focused reflection is a powerful thinking strategy that once learned can yield…
Continue reading →A physical notebook and a pen or pencil is key to enhancing your thinking skills. It’s not possible to remember all of your fleeting thoughts and ideas until you’re able to record them later. Voice recording your thoughts on your phone or other device until you can get to your notebook is fine if…
Continue reading →Most of us don’t remember learning to think—it just happens—whether we want it to or not. At school we learn to think about specific subjects… at least enough to learn/remember/understand and pass the exams. But what does thinking mean? The Oxford English Dictionary defines thinking as: “The most general verb for expressing internal mental activity,…
Continue reading →Artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic today and often includes dire predictions of job loss. AI is “the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.” Martin Ford, author of Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future, opens his article in…
Continue reading →“The times they are a changin’” wrote singer-songwriter Bob Dylan in the early 1960s. Many years later, times are still changing. One prime example is the proliferation of technology and information, making the skills associated with thinking, knowledge and wisdom (TKW) more critical than ever. Researchers are discovering that our brains are changing in response…
Continue reading →What does thinking really mean? How can we improve our thinking skills to learn, accomplish goals or create meaning in our lives? What is the relationship between thinking, knowledge and wisdom and where do we start? Defining thinking turns out to be more complicated than one might think (no pun intended!). The Free Dictionary confirms…
Continue reading →I’ve been curious about knowledge and wisdom for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up in a rural farming community, “practical knowledge” or “common sense” was critical and so-called “book learning” was seen as generally irrelevant. Practical knowledge was gained through thinking, observation and practice or “trial and error.” Practical knowledge…
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