3402: The Case For Independent Thinking by Ali Cornish with WantLess on Self-Awareness and Genuine Independence

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER_00]: This is Optimal Living Daily, The Case For Independent Thinking by Ali Cornish with WantLess.co.uk

[00:00:07] [SPEAKER_00]: And I'm your narrator Justin Malik reading you blogs every single day of the year to help you live a more meaningful life.

[00:00:12] [SPEAKER_00]: I cover personal development or self-help, minimalism, productivity, and more.

[00:00:18] [SPEAKER_00]: But for now let's get right to the post as we optimize your life.

[00:00:25] [SPEAKER_00]: The Case For Independent Thinking by Ali Cornish with WantLess.co.uk

[00:00:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Many centuries ago, Rene Descartes coined the phrase,

[00:00:34] [SPEAKER_00]: I think, therefore I am.

[00:00:37] [SPEAKER_00]: He believed that the first defining aspect of humanity was that we are creatures of thought.

[00:00:42] [SPEAKER_00]: The only reason we know we are truly alive is due to the fact that we can think about our existence.

[00:00:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Our ability to think independently defines our humanity.

[00:00:51] [SPEAKER_00]: Our ability to think independently is being challenged.

[00:00:54] [SPEAKER_00]: Far from the 1600s when Descartes made his philosophical proclamation,

[00:00:57] [SPEAKER_00]: in the 2000s we often don't take advantage of our humanity as he previously defined it.

[00:01:03] [SPEAKER_00]: Oftentimes when we are called to think about something or come across a question to be answered,

[00:01:08] [SPEAKER_00]: we quickly pull out our devices and ask Google.

[00:01:11] [SPEAKER_00]: Pretty much everyone I know does this, myself included.

[00:01:14] [SPEAKER_00]: This practice, while very convenient and expedient,

[00:01:18] [SPEAKER_00]: actually may cause more harm than good.

[00:01:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Quickly turning to Google for the answer is evidence

[00:01:23] [SPEAKER_00]: that we are losing the patience, the ability, and the will

[00:01:26] [SPEAKER_00]: to engage in independent, deep thinking.

[00:01:30] [SPEAKER_00]: I think, therefore I am, has turned into

[00:01:32] [SPEAKER_00]: I Google, therefore I am.

[00:01:35] [SPEAKER_00]: Why is deep thinking important?

[00:01:38] [SPEAKER_00]: Deep thinking is an indicator that we are engaging,

[00:01:41] [SPEAKER_00]: retaining, and building upon learning opportunities.

[00:01:44] [SPEAKER_00]: If we don't pause and attempt to puzzle out answers for ourselves,

[00:01:47] [SPEAKER_00]: we lose a valuable opportunity to enhance the power of our minds.

[00:01:51] [SPEAKER_00]: Immediate access to data is changing our ability to think independently

[00:01:55] [SPEAKER_00]: and engage in deep attention.

[00:01:57] [SPEAKER_00]: I'll explain this further using an example I bring up quite a bit in teaching.

[00:02:01] [SPEAKER_00]: If we want to become physically stronger,

[00:02:03] [SPEAKER_00]: we have to eat right and exercise.

[00:02:05] [SPEAKER_00]: We can't just take supplements and expect lasting results.

[00:02:09] [SPEAKER_00]: The same idea goes for our minds.

[00:02:11] [SPEAKER_00]: If we want to exercise our minds and become mentally stronger,

[00:02:15] [SPEAKER_00]: retain more information,

[00:02:16] [SPEAKER_00]: and be able to think independently,

[00:02:18] [SPEAKER_00]: we have to take the time to listen actively and read closely.

[00:02:22] [SPEAKER_00]: We can't simply do an internet search for the information we seek

[00:02:25] [SPEAKER_00]: and expect our minds to flourish and get stronger with lasting results.

[00:02:29] [SPEAKER_00]: It's easier to think shallowly, so we do it.

[00:02:33] [SPEAKER_00]: Immediate access to data has its drawbacks,

[00:02:35] [SPEAKER_00]: but it can, of course, be very useful in certain situations.

[00:02:38] [SPEAKER_00]: When Josh and I arrive at our restaurant of choice,

[00:02:41] [SPEAKER_00]: salivating to the thought of fresh chips and salsa,

[00:02:43] [SPEAKER_00]: and to our horror,

[00:02:44] [SPEAKER_00]: the lights are off, windows shuttered,

[00:02:46] [SPEAKER_00]: it's closed?

[00:02:48] [SPEAKER_00]: We need a backup plan stat.

[00:02:50] [SPEAKER_00]: So he gets on Yelp and I get on Google Maps.

[00:02:53] [SPEAKER_00]: We quickly select somewhere new.

[00:02:55] [SPEAKER_00]: Situation solved, case closed,

[00:02:57] [SPEAKER_00]: and we are able to eat instead of starve to death.

[00:02:59] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a technology win.

[00:03:01] [SPEAKER_00]: Now think of another scenario.

[00:03:03] [SPEAKER_00]: Josh and I are hanging out with some old friends.

[00:03:05] [SPEAKER_00]: We haven't seen each other in a while.

[00:03:07] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a really fun conversation,

[00:03:09] [SPEAKER_00]: animated, with ebbs and flows.

[00:03:10] [SPEAKER_00]: Everyone is engaging on multiple levels.

[00:03:12] [SPEAKER_00]: And to my delight, I find out that one of the group

[00:03:15] [SPEAKER_00]: actually lived down the street from me in San Diego

[00:03:17] [SPEAKER_00]: some 15 years ago.

[00:03:19] [SPEAKER_00]: So I sneak into my phone to pull up a Google image

[00:03:21] [SPEAKER_00]: of my old apartment to continue the discussion.

[00:03:24] [SPEAKER_00]: By the time I'm ready to share,

[00:03:26] [SPEAKER_00]: the conversation has shifted,

[00:03:27] [SPEAKER_00]: morphed, and I'm instantly out of place

[00:03:29] [SPEAKER_00]: with my blurry Google image.

[00:03:31] [SPEAKER_00]: Looking around for a new thread of discussion,

[00:03:33] [SPEAKER_00]: I see there are others just as disengaged as I am

[00:03:35] [SPEAKER_00]: on their phones.

[00:03:37] [SPEAKER_00]: When we turn our attention to our phones,

[00:03:39] [SPEAKER_00]: we rob ourselves of a fulfilling,

[00:03:41] [SPEAKER_00]: naturally evolving conversation.

[00:03:44] [SPEAKER_00]: Shifting our attention to our devices,

[00:03:45] [SPEAKER_00]: even for a little while,

[00:03:47] [SPEAKER_00]: alters the natural flow of things.

[00:03:49] [SPEAKER_00]: We lose what our friends said, felt, and meant.

[00:03:52] [SPEAKER_00]: We lose the eye contact,

[00:03:54] [SPEAKER_00]: so important for creating empathy.

[00:03:55] [SPEAKER_00]: We cease to actively listen,

[00:03:58] [SPEAKER_00]: resulting in our company thinking

[00:03:59] [SPEAKER_00]: we aren't interested in what they have to say,

[00:04:01] [SPEAKER_00]: showing our friends that we don't care at all about them.

[00:04:04] [SPEAKER_00]: We stop thinking independently and rob ourselves

[00:04:06] [SPEAKER_00]: of the very attribute that defines our humanity.

[00:04:09] [SPEAKER_00]: I didn't need to look up a photo of my old apartment

[00:04:11] [SPEAKER_00]: at that very moment.

[00:04:13] [SPEAKER_00]: Instead, I could have continued the conversation

[00:04:15] [SPEAKER_00]: about San Diego and what it meant to both of us.

[00:04:17] [SPEAKER_00]: We could have shared our memories

[00:04:19] [SPEAKER_00]: and created a meaningful exchange.

[00:04:21] [SPEAKER_00]: When I wanted information,

[00:04:22] [SPEAKER_00]: I didn't dig into the back of my mind

[00:04:24] [SPEAKER_00]: to conjure up a verbal image of my apartment.

[00:04:26] [SPEAKER_00]: I found it easier to search for a picture online.

[00:04:29] [SPEAKER_00]: Lame.

[00:04:30] [SPEAKER_00]: My friends deserved better than this.

[00:04:32] [SPEAKER_00]: According to MIT professor Sherry Turkle,

[00:04:35] [SPEAKER_00]: quote,

[00:04:36] [SPEAKER_00]: 89% of Americans say that during their last social interaction,

[00:04:39] [SPEAKER_00]: they took out a phone,

[00:04:41] [SPEAKER_00]: and 82% said that it deteriorated

[00:04:43] [SPEAKER_00]: the conversation they were in, end quote.

[00:04:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Studies indicate that even a silent phone

[00:04:48] [SPEAKER_00]: placed screen down between two people at a table

[00:04:50] [SPEAKER_00]: causes them to share less with each other.

[00:04:53] [SPEAKER_00]: The result of a phone's mere presence in a conversation

[00:04:56] [SPEAKER_00]: is feeling less connected,

[00:04:58] [SPEAKER_00]: less interested,

[00:04:59] [SPEAKER_00]: less empathetic,

[00:05:00] [SPEAKER_00]: and less human.

[00:05:02] [SPEAKER_00]: How can we reclaim our humanity

[00:05:04] [SPEAKER_00]: and our ability to think independently?

[00:05:07] [SPEAKER_00]: Here are several strategies

[00:05:08] [SPEAKER_00]: that are sure to limit distractions

[00:05:09] [SPEAKER_00]: caused by the presence of cell phones.

[00:05:12] [SPEAKER_00]: Number one,

[00:05:13] [SPEAKER_00]: if you're going out,

[00:05:14] [SPEAKER_00]: leave your phone at home or in the car,

[00:05:16] [SPEAKER_00]: or be content that it is resting quietly

[00:05:18] [SPEAKER_00]: in your pocket or purse.

[00:05:20] [SPEAKER_00]: This will take some willpower.

[00:05:22] [SPEAKER_00]: Number two,

[00:05:23] [SPEAKER_00]: if you're staying home

[00:05:24] [SPEAKER_00]: and don't want to be distracted by your phone,

[00:05:26] [SPEAKER_00]: leave it upstairs or in a room seldom visited.

[00:05:29] [SPEAKER_00]: This takes a little less willpower than number one.

[00:05:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Number three,

[00:05:33] [SPEAKER_00]: utilize the airplane mode setting,

[00:05:35] [SPEAKER_00]: which disables Bluetooth,

[00:05:37] [SPEAKER_00]: Wi-Fi,

[00:05:37] [SPEAKER_00]: and telephone settings.

[00:05:39] [SPEAKER_00]: The problem with this is that

[00:05:40] [SPEAKER_00]: you can just turn airplane mode off anytime.

[00:05:43] [SPEAKER_00]: It's best to combine this step with number one

[00:05:44] [SPEAKER_00]: or number two for optimal effectiveness.

[00:05:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Number four,

[00:05:48] [SPEAKER_00]: turn on do not disturb

[00:05:49] [SPEAKER_00]: while you are in the presence of others.

[00:05:51] [SPEAKER_00]: This setting can limit calls and texts

[00:05:53] [SPEAKER_00]: sent to your device.

[00:05:54] [SPEAKER_00]: You might use this all of the time.

[00:05:56] [SPEAKER_00]: Number five,

[00:05:57] [SPEAKER_00]: set quiet hours on your phone.

[00:05:59] [SPEAKER_00]: For example,

[00:06:00] [SPEAKER_00]: I set my quiet hours from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.

[00:06:03] [SPEAKER_00]: so I'm unable to receive calls or texts

[00:06:05] [SPEAKER_00]: between those times.

[00:06:06] [SPEAKER_00]: Setting my quiet hours has done wonders for my sleep

[00:06:09] [SPEAKER_00]: and my overall well-being.

[00:06:11] [SPEAKER_00]: Number six,

[00:06:12] [SPEAKER_00]: if you must have your phone with you,

[00:06:13] [SPEAKER_00]: turn off the notifications

[00:06:15] [SPEAKER_00]: so you won't be at the mercy of your phone.

[00:06:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Remember,

[00:06:17] [SPEAKER_00]: our phones exist for us,

[00:06:19] [SPEAKER_00]: not the other way around.

[00:06:21] [SPEAKER_00]: Number seven,

[00:06:22] [SPEAKER_00]: there's power in numbers.

[00:06:23] [SPEAKER_00]: If you're out with friends,

[00:06:25] [SPEAKER_00]: have a verbal agreement about phone use,

[00:06:27] [SPEAKER_00]: such as no visible phones at the table,

[00:06:29] [SPEAKER_00]: or if you must use your phone,

[00:06:31] [SPEAKER_00]: step outside.

[00:06:32] [SPEAKER_00]: And number eight,

[00:06:33] [SPEAKER_00]: if you have the right equipment,

[00:06:35] [SPEAKER_00]: set up an aversion therapy situation

[00:06:36] [SPEAKER_00]: in which you receive a shock

[00:06:38] [SPEAKER_00]: every time you pick up your phone.

[00:06:39] [SPEAKER_00]: Just kidding.

[00:06:40] [SPEAKER_00]: All in all,

[00:06:41] [SPEAKER_00]: setting boundaries helps us reconnect

[00:06:43] [SPEAKER_00]: with experiences and people

[00:06:45] [SPEAKER_00]: in the real world.

[00:06:50] [SPEAKER_00]: You just listened to the post titled

[00:06:52] [SPEAKER_00]: The Case for Independent Thinking

[00:06:54] [SPEAKER_00]: by Allie Cornish

[00:06:55] [SPEAKER_00]: with wantless.co.uk

[00:06:57] [SPEAKER_00]: and I'll be right back

[00:06:58] [SPEAKER_00]: with my commentary.

[00:07:00] [SPEAKER_00]: Allie's a guest author

[00:07:01] [SPEAKER_00]: on Claire's site,

[00:07:02] [SPEAKER_00]: wantless.co.uk.

[00:07:04] [SPEAKER_00]: I narrate from Allie too.

[00:07:06] [SPEAKER_00]: Her site is everthrive.org.

[00:07:08] [SPEAKER_00]: That might sound familiar

[00:07:08] [SPEAKER_00]: if you're a long-time listener.

[00:07:10] [SPEAKER_00]: So please do check out both of those.

[00:07:12] [SPEAKER_00]: Great tips there at the end.

[00:07:13] [SPEAKER_00]: I would simply pick one

[00:07:15] [SPEAKER_00]: that stood out to you

[00:07:16] [SPEAKER_00]: so that you don't get overwhelmed.

[00:07:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe turning your phone off at night

[00:07:19] [SPEAKER_00]: or setting it to do not disturb

[00:07:20] [SPEAKER_00]: or keeping it in a different room.

[00:07:22] [SPEAKER_00]: That can make a huge difference.

[00:07:24] [SPEAKER_00]: But don't try to do

[00:07:25] [SPEAKER_00]: all those things at once.

[00:07:27] [SPEAKER_00]: Just try one

[00:07:27] [SPEAKER_00]: even for an hour or two a day

[00:07:29] [SPEAKER_00]: and I'm sure it'll feel good.

[00:07:31] [SPEAKER_00]: But that will do it for today.

[00:07:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Have a great day,

[00:07:33] [SPEAKER_00]: great weekend

[00:07:34] [SPEAKER_00]: if you're listening in real time

[00:07:35] [SPEAKER_00]: and I'll see you tomorrow

[00:07:36] [SPEAKER_00]: where your optimal life awaits.