When do I think?
Always – no surprise there. However, wouldn’t it be nice to have a few zen-like thoughtless moments per week? Because of my inability to pause, even for a brief moment, my constant thought process I truly admire those who are able to take a break not from the external world, but from the internal madness of their own brains. Are there benefits to taking a personal thought-vacation? Undoubtedly. Scientifically, these moments are categorized are “mental worriers against stress related symptoms” and even “promoters of natural good health and well being”. Because the benefits outweigh the simple cost (30 mins a day spent on a new task – no big deal), it is definitely a goal I should add on my to-do list.
Now that’s I’ve realized exactly how frequently I think , what is more interesting than how often I think is how exactly I think.
So – how do I think?
Let’s think about that.
Lockwood, Pink, and Martin had a few interesting things to say. In short, what I extrapolated were great definitions about how two distinct types of people think: convergent thinkers and divergent thinkers. However, what I’m left with is a dilemma with how I would categorize myself.
How I would love to think: I love logic. I love sequencing. I love step-by-step processes. I love logically flows of information. All in all, I have an infinity to logic. I admire those who are highly logical (especially those who couple logic with high intelligence). I envy the way their brains work in such a systematic manner. Their ability to meander through large amounts of data, which from the outside may appear to be as jumbled as a ball of yarn, and create a logical explanation out of it is undeniably very impressive! I perceive this this high level of logically ability as a sign of higher intelligence, stronger thinker, better management, and more efficient problem solver. All titles which anyone would be lucky to be categorized under.
So what’s the problem?
The problem is – I do not think like that.
I am a classical divergent thinker. My head is swimming with thoughts, ranging from highly creative thoughts to very intelligent ideas to completely useless solutions. Regardless of the type of thought, I have plenty. Creative solutions to problems inspire me. And, in my mind, it is impossible for real-life problems in the world to have one-solution; therefore, I find multiple solutions to problems. Divergent thinking has given me the ability to enjoy my academic studies from a different angle. Of course, we cannot have too many “creative” accounts (heaven forbid we would have an increase in the number of crooks and a decrease in the financial stability of our country). But in the field of HR consulting, creativity might just be an attribute which helps me more than I think.
So why the dilemma?
I love logic. But I am creative. I love sequencing. But I always find multiple answers.
In conclusion, there isn’t much of a dilemma. It took me a long time to realize that, in fact, divergent thinking and convergent thinking are not mutually exclusive. They act as one and each individual as their own preferences as to which one they are naturally more inclined too. I love logic – therefore I spend more time (through classes, case competitions, readings, etc) to develop this stream of thinking. I do, however, see the value in my own divergent thinking ability and allow it to be nurtured through outlets such as creative classes, music, dance, and art.
So how do I think?
As most people do – with their whole brain. Both convergent and divergent thinking occurs in all situations. I look forward to be able to develop them both equally in the future.