Challenge Yourself to Think of Everything At Least Two Ways
We take our “Selves” for granted. What do I mean by that? Well, what is your concept of “self?” It’s a conglomeration of beliefs, isn’t it?
A lot of our “beliefs” we take for granted. 90% of our beliefs we don’t even recognize as such. We just see them as intrinsically the way things “are.”
Humans are extremely adaptable. Literally, the way we perceive and experience our world is completely dictated by our beliefs. Most people have a small handful of beliefs that are up for grabs for changing. But the vast majority, people don’t even touch. They don’t even know they’re there. They’re just experienced as fact. Most often, most people in the world are oblivious to the circle of thoughts they have. They’re only actually aware of the fact that they’re thinking and breathing and their heart's beating and they’re going to die someday for a few brief and terrifying moments in their lifetimes.
Here’s a fun exercise: when you do catch yourself thinking, catch the thought. What is it? Now, think of that same thing in another way. Think of it in the complete opposite way, and then think of it in as many other ways as you can.
Source
Deconstruct Your Self
There are so many infinite beliefs (thoughts we've thought over and over again) that they're almost infinite. And they just keep adding up every day.
This is healthy. Many of our beliefs were formed in our early days when we weren't competent enough to choose ones that made any sense. But even the ones that do make sense, challenge them. Why not? What do you have to lose? It's a fun game. Challenge everything. You don't have to believe the alternatives to the beliefs that you thought up. But you'll start to get a better picture of reality. You'll also become more nimble and subtle. You'll become curious about more things, will become much more well rounded and intelligent, and your critical thinking skills will be sharp.
Oh, and creative. you'll be more creative.
Everything you catch yourself thinking, think of it in another way, and another and another and another!
Thanks for sharing this, at least I will start doing it more in the future
Having an open mind will always allow us to become wiser, and I agree challenging our own beliefs can make increase our critical skills, and our reasoning, because on one hand we will be questioning said belief and on the other hand we will be defending and justifying it. A nice little intellectual exercise for sure :)
Cheers!