Nature of Thought What stops me from critical thinking? What are my personal barriers that stop me? How does my experiences change my thought process? What can I learn from the answers to make me a better nurse? These are questions I have to ask myself. Every day we encounter new experiences. Each experience has that potential to change who we are, how we think, and how we react. I have personally changed my thinking based on my experiences.
I realized I had a negative thought process. I always thought the worst of every situation and person. That is until I introduced to the power of positive thinking. I consciously changed the way I thought. My life started to turn around for the better. I have many personal barriers as I think everyone does. Three of my personal barriers that influence my thought process are religion, rationalization, and emotions. I am a Catholic and while I do not agree with everything in the religion I do have strong beliefs.
I choose on a conscious level to not talk about religion with people outside of my immediate circle of family and friends. I choose to do this because religion is a touchy subject for most people and I know I get upset when someone is trying to tell me what I believe is wrong or outdated. Talking about religion usually makes me emotional. I am an extra emotional person by nature. My feelings and emotions are usually very apparent and hard for me to hide. I again have to retreat back and think about the positive side of things.
The Essay on Culture, Religion, Experiences… How Do They Make You “You” ?
How Elie viewed his culture and religion was affected by his experiences in the holocaust he was only a victim in the concentration camp. Before he was very naive, along with the rest of the people in the little town he lived in. For example when Moishe the Beetle from Night was warning everybody about how the germens are going to kill all the Jew’s, they all thought he was crazy. “Even I did not ...
I Rationalization, as Kirby states in Critical thinking: Tools for taking charge of your learning and your life “The easiest person to deceive is one’s self. ” Lord Lyton. “Of all the defense mechanisms, rationalization is perhaps the greatest inhibitor of clear thinking” (Kirby, 2007).
I become emotional then I try to rationalize my thoughts. It doesn’t always make since after more thought is put in. At some point it usually becomes apparent I was letting my emotions and rationalizations run my thoughts. I always have to make a conscious effort to return to positive thinking.
There are many situations or conversations that I now realize I was not completely understanding or trying to understand because of my personal barriers. I let my emotions get in the way. I could not see the other person’s point of view, I didn’t even try. I am stubborn and when I am in a heated conversation I think, I’m right and your wrong, and I hold my ground on what I believe. This is the main reason for not having religious conversations. I have my beliefs and if they are challenged I get emotional, either with anger, sadness or happiness depending on the situation.
My stubbornness has always been one of my faults as well. I am living proof that the thought process can change with conscious effort. I have done it and I believe in it. I make the decision everyday to have a positive attitude. It is hard to do but it can be done. Although I do have a lot to learn. My barriers are still prevelant today jest a more minor version than 10 years ago. I don’t think there is a way to eradicate personal barriers completely. After we identify the barriers we can make a conscious effort to minimize the effect they have on our thought process.
I personally choose to avoid certain subjects altogether to help with my religion personal barrier. I also try to remain calm and not get to emotional. I take deep breaths and try to think about the situation and possibly put myself in another’s shoes. According to Paul,2006, I am in the 4th stage of thought process development strategies as a practice thinker. I make a conscious effort daily to change my way of thinking. I practice and I will keep on practicing until I get it right. Our thoughts are who we are. We can make an effort to change for the better if we make that choice. We all have personal berries. We have to identify them and make the change. Only then can we become critical thinkers.
The Essay on Computers Change Thinking
In “How Computers Change The Way We Think” Sherry Turkle, a professor at MIT, founder of the MIT Initiative on technology and self and clinical psychologist argues that technology today is negatively impacting our natural thought process as humans. She focuses primarily on a few major concerns such as privacy, identity and the dangers technology present to us in our everyday life. Turkle does ...
