Do you Really Think For Yourself?

No. 

I mean quite literally but clicking that link you have answered that question for yourself.  Thoughts and ideas are like viruses in that they spread from one person to another almost instantly, or at least at the conception of verbal articulation. 

On the topic of thinking for yourself though, we aren't talking about unique ideas but instead the ability to weigh facts and situations in your mind, and do the research and come to your conclusion.  

That is thinking for yourself. 

It Starts In Traditional Schooling

School is interesting. 

It is here that we learn how not to learn. 

Quite literally in school few thrive, and those that don't are at the hands of this authoritarian based indoctrination camp.

How many times in school were you rewarded for actually thinking outside the box?

Never. 

Even in a debate focused class, the teacher holds a bias, one that makes one position in the discussion more right, instead of respecting both sides. 

And then we have kids in math who dare to use a different equation to reach the same conclusion, with a failing consequence. 

As I said, school is where we learn to not think for ourselves. 

Tell me if this is not the case:

• Their books are chosen by faculty
• The information is presented as lecturer and listener 
• On written exams, there is typically only one right answer
• Multiple choices exist

Multiple choice should not exist. The ability to routinely memorize information is great, but in school, this is supposed to be "learning" not memorizing. 

We are systematic creatures who need to learn to learn before we can think for ourselves. 

Self-taught thinkers include:

• Leonardo Da Vinci
• Elon Musk
• And many more

Then We Have The Media and Work

Here's the fun part.

"Fake news" is our current scapegoat because our system of trust is broken.

Granted fake news is not the problem as much as not thinking for ourselves is. 

I understand that we have busy lives that don't allow the necessary research that a news article should have... But typically these articles take around 30 minutes to write and produce. 

This dilemma is one of a culture of corporations that operate with complete authority.

Train people to not think, give them trust, and they will always believe what you say. 

Hence people being mad about the fake news instead of being mad about those not using their greatest gifts, their mind. 

Our will is structured in a Victorian-era style. 

Produce employees that fill jobs then "work" their way to the top.

Most industries don't require thought in their job.  And people like that. 

They want artificial job security created through thinking that there job is safe because it doesn't have many errors...

A.I. will change that. 

We have one thing that we all can do to change the world, and that is to think for yourself and spread those thoughts.

Thinking for Yourself

This is the end of this short article. 

Logically you may process the information, but I don't want that. 

I want you to negate me, argue with me and debate what I say because that is thinking for yourself. 

Don't take anything at face value.

Always think about it. 

Ray Dalio talks about triangulating information. 

Get their different sources and then find the middle ground and proceed from there. 

It sounds simple but isn't. 

And maybe he's wrong; I'm looking for more sources 😉

Anyways I want to leave you with this...

Question everything,

Austin

Photo Credit - Elena Saharova