“Next-Level Mental Lifestyle”

Life as they say is a never-ending process. It continuously searches for something to satisfy the essence of its existence. It also has certain domains to feed, like that of the mind. The mind also has the undying crave for knowledge. It can be likened to scavengers, who continuously search for a prey to devour to sustain its life. As man unceasingly looks for meaning, it settles more on the gratification of its mind. Knowing it entails much attention, as it is difficult to achieve satisfaction. However, it is most often rewarding to having met the minds needs. According to Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, a child thinks from the simple thoughts and gradually ascends to complex matter as the child matures with age and as it continuously interacts with its environment. Furthermore, as they progress, they apply all thinking processes to new experiences; gradually, they modify these processes to better accommodate reality. This occurs not through direct instruction, but rather through the child’s own mental activity and internal motivation to understand. As we progress in life, we must also progress in the way our cognitive domain function. We learned how to be objective, became systematic thinkers, solved equations, analyzed problems, applied abstract ideas and deduced or induced concepts. We now should go a step farther ahead on the capability our gray matter could endure. As we grow older each day, we need to face the task of expanding our knowledge we all have gained through time. It is imperative that we learn how to think more than the usual way we are accustomed and by this I say, thoroughly thinking in a theoretical way.

Coming across an article entitled “Thinking Theory Thoroughly” by James N. Rosenau. It introduces us to the nature of the hardest intellectual feat that we consider as theorizing. As hard as we view it to be, Mr. Rosenau had formulated ways on how to acquire the skill of using our theoretical thinking abilities to understand complex phenomena. It also presents the loopholes of understanding situations the non-theoretical way and suggests the better and fulfilling way of abstracting ideas through theorizing. It even provided nine steps for us to grasp easily the idea on how to apply theorizing. Let me just consolidate the inputs I have gained through the course of reading this article. I have learned that one is to have a better understanding of what theory really means and how to use it to their advantage. We must know how to set boundaries in the use of definitions to avoid misconceptions and to gain clarity in our thoughts. It also evolves around the confusion whether to use empirical theory over value theory. It prefers empirical theory as it bases on the knowledge of facts through experimentation and observation of details rather than the mere knowledge on what is it about. It also opens the idea that events happen not just as a unique circumstance but it has underlying factors to consider that it is happening in an order. For us to understand this way of thinking, we must know how to generalize but somehow learn how to link the situation as to its cause and effect. An instance is a tidbit of a larger idea we must focus on. It entails us to draw a bigger picture, to think outside the box in order for us to know deeper the concept of a certain phenomenon. The fifth step, is to generalize ideas using simple explanations rather than worry on the detailed argumentation resulting to complex thoughts that might lead to misunderstanding the entire concept. It also prepares us to be tolerant and to accept that things are at first ambiguous. Though things maybe unclear, it opens the door to consider all probabilities why a certain event transpired. It also exudes our creative juices and imaginative thinking to make it run freely, to explore all possibilities, to take the path less chosen and to think in a way that is unnatural to an ordinary mind. This process should be taken to lay all the probabilities on hand even if the idea seems to be illogical or absurd. With all steps internalized, one must also consider to ask important questions same as being concerned of having correct answers. Rather than giving emphasis on the answers, we should be directed to ask probing questions so as not to limit our investigation of the phenomena. Lastly, it shows that a good idea is always challenged so one must be ready to face inquiries proving it wrong.

For us to explain this concept it entails us to think the way it is suggesting us to think. Making it more beneficial for it allows us to experience another way of thinking, another mental lifestyle. Because of this, it gave us an idea to think out of the box for us to grasp a concept more in-depth and thorough. It is mind-boggling that it initially gives us a headache but with constant use, it will surely sharpen our mind. The author is trying his very best to convey his message to us but I think because of the complexity of the topic itself, he has a hard time looking for the appropriate words to make us understand in our present level of thinking and mental capacity.

As the cycle of life continues, the quest for knowledge lingers. We all should learn how to use this theoretical way of thinking to our advantage. I do agree with the author when he said that indeed theoretical thinking is a talent, for some it may be acquired early in life but for others it can be taught. It is a good thing it has been introduced to us but it is better to somehow be able to apply it in our daily experiences. But I do stand on my point that It may be possible for me to learn theoretical thinking, I may learn a lot from the author and incorporate it in my mental lifestyle and enhance my way of thinking but you cannot totally adapt it. Thinking is a way of life itself and you choose what is applicable to yourself. It may be a tough way of learning things but the effort is worth the feeling of accomplishment once you’ve completely fathom its deepness. As we continue to grow in our lives, let us not stagnate to the usual way of thinking but venture on the higher ways of learning. I could say that the ultimate end of thinking is when man is brought to his eternal destiny. So grab the chance to grow, learn and think theoretically for us solve the deeper mysteries of what lies ahead.

-= Mark Anthony Doblas=-