Since we started at school and evolved up the levels and grades, we have been familiar with a certain way of thinking. This way of thinking is called "critical" thinking and it emphasizes the skills of analysis rather than creative thinking and creative problem solving. Our formal education systems are using teaching models that are focused on how to understand claims, follow logical arguments, figure out the answer, eliminate the incorrect paths and finally finding the correct ones.
There is however, another type of thinking, which is much more focused on exploring ideas, which has the possibility of searching for and generating several great answers rather than just one. This is the creative way of thinking. Both of these ways of thinking are crucial to a successful career or working life, relationship issues and self improvement. The strange thing is that the latter tends to be ignored and neglected in the education system; the system that should prepare us for the real life.
What distinguises the Creative way of thinking from the critical way?
While the critical way of thinking...
is analytic by nature
aims to provide you 'the answer'
is convergent, fact or standard oriented
is stricktly focused
is validated by judgment
belongs to the left side of the brain
consists of a line of deductions
has an objective nature
empazises probability - which can be quantified
is based upon reasoning
is verbal
the creative way of thinking ...
is more generative; it's purpose is to generate new answers for already known problems
is aimed to give you one or more possible answers among a set
is divergent, which is the opposite of the former
is more diffused
only functions when judgment is suspended
belongs to the right side of the brain
is more associative which means it can make ideas by associating other ideas
is much more subjective
is more focused on what is possible whether it can be quantified or not
is based upon richness and novelty
is visual
When we try to solve problems, both ways of thinking are required. The process of problem solving utilizes an alternation between the creative and critical way of thinking. - they operate together. Another good thing about our fantastic brains are that we don't have to think too hard about when to use which method – the brain takes care of it automatically.
Terje Brooks Ellingsen is a writer and internet publisher. He runs the website 1st-Self_Improvement.net. Terje is a Sociologist who enjoys contributing to the personal growth and happiness of others. He tries to accomplish this by writing about self improvement issues from his own experience and knowledge. For example, making a successful career and relationship issues
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