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THE ART OF THINKING

Written by: Jonathan Payne

Article Overview: Good thinking requires discipline. It requires discipline not to allow distractions to interrupt our thinking. It requires a disciplined mind that does not allow stray thoughts to hijack the process and carry us away so that we end up daydreaming rather than thinking.

THE ART OF THINKING

Besides being a coach, I also have someone who coaches me. I think it’s important that people who help others with their life issues, such as counselors, psychologists, clergy and coaches, should have someone in a similar support role for them.
In my session with my coach last week, we were clarifying the distinction between the two parts of my coaching practice - business coaching and life coaching. It was important for me to think through how the two types of coaching differed, and where it would be appropriate to offer the different styles.
The point is, I had someone to help me think it through. My coach didn’t think it out for me, or offer me advice – she simply asked helpful questions, listened carefully to my answers, and then asked more questions. In the process, I was able to think through the issue clearly. I have no doubt I would have thought of many of the questions myself – but the coaching session required that I sit and focus for an hour, and be disciplined about asking the questions and giving the answers. The result was that I came away from the coaching session enthused for my work, clear about what I wanted to achieve, and knowing how I was going to achieve it.
Contrary to what we may believe, thinking is not as easy as it seems. Certainly, ideas come to us – but pursuing those ideas to an effective conclusion can be difficult. Distractions get in the way, and before we can develop the idea, let alone act on it, we move on to something else. Good thinking requires discipline. It requires discipline not to allow distractions to interrupt our thinking. It requires a disciplined mind that does not allow stray thoughts to hijack the process and carry us away so that we end up daydreaming rather than thinking. For centuries, wise people have taught contemplation – which is essentially a process of thinking about something deeply and without distraction for an extended period with the intention of arriving at the truth.
Thinking is helped by having someone who can take responsibility for the process - that is, making sure the thinking process continues - while you take responsibility for the content - that is, what comes out of the thinking process.
The person who is responsible for the process listens carefully, asks helpful questions and does not impose their own suggestions or opinions.
Could you help someone to think? The next time someone asks you for your advice, don’t give it. Instead, ask them for their opinion, listen to their answer, ask another question which helps them carry the thought further and keep it up until it is clear that they are thinking. And how about asking a friend or someone you can trust to help you with your own thinking? Explain to them that you want them to listen carefully and ask you questions. You will be surprised at how powerful good thinking can be!

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Article Tags: arriving at the truth, business coaching, centuries, clergy, conclusion, contemplation, counselors, different styles, discipline, distinction, distraction, distractions, enthused, good thinking, intention, life coaching, no doubt, practice business, psychologists, stray thoughts



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