How to Improve Your Thinking Skills

Summary

This video script emphasizes the profound impact of improving our thinking skills on our lives. It posits that many limitations are self-imposed due to our understanding of the world. The script introduces strategies to enhance cognitive abilities, such as cultivating epistemic humility, practicing metacognition, leveraging the Johari window, and utilizing Socratic questioning. It underscores the importance of behavior in intelligence and encourages viewers to engage in intellectual communities to expand their understanding and improve their lives.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Our lives are shaped by our knowledge, beliefs, and values, and many limitations are self-imposed due to our understanding of the world.
• 🔒 We are not in control of many immutable characteristics like our birth circumstances, but we can control our response to them.
• 📈 The world we see is a reflection of our cognitive schemas, and our thoughts can either empower or limit us.
• 🌟 Improving our thinking skills is crucial for personal growth and can profoundly impact our lives.
• 🧬 Research into intelligence often overlooks behavior, which unlike genetics and environment, is within our control.
• 🎨 Joshua R. Stevens suggests that the opposite of an intelligent person is someone locked within their own limited understanding, highlighting the need for expanding our horizons.
• 🤔 To escape our 'idiocy,' we must reach beyond our current understanding, using tools and behaviors that promote intellectual growth.
• 🧐 Cultivating epistemic humility, practicing metacognition, and leveraging the Johari window are essential behaviors for improving our thinking skills.
• 🤓 Socratic questioning and SWAT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis are tools to challenge assumptions and develop strategies for personal development.
• 🌐 Participation in intellectual communities exposes us to diverse perspectives and encourages us to think beyond our own limitations.
• 📊 A structured diagram or 'mind map' of problems and challenges, maintained and modified over time, is a practical method to track and address our intellectual growth.
• 🎨 The speaker shares a personal update on their creative work, emphasizing the application of these principles in one's professional life.

Q & A

What is the main idea presented in the video script?

The main idea is that our lives are shaped by our knowledge, beliefs, and values, and that we can improve our thinking skills to overcome self-imposed limitations and create a better life.

What does the term 'idioc cosm' refer to in the context of the script?

The term 'idioc cosm' refers to the limited understanding or worldview that an individual has, which can act as a barrier to their growth and development.

How does the script suggest we can control the trajectory of our lives?

The script suggests that we can control our response to immutable characteristics such as our birth circumstances and that we are responsible for our behavior, which in turn influences the trajectory of our lives.

What is the significance of Proverbs 23:7 in the context of the script?

Proverbs 23:7 is used to emphasize that our thoughts shape who we are, implying that by improving our thinking, we can improve our lives.

What are the three factors typically focused on in research into intelligence according to the script?

The three factors typically focused on are genetic, environmental, and developmental.

Why is behavior considered a missing component in the equation of intelligence in the script?

Behavior is considered a missing component because it is within our control, unlike genetics and to some extent environment, and can be modified to enhance intelligence.

What is the goal of the video in terms of improving thinking skills?

The goal is to encourage viewers to modify their behavior to behave more intelligently, thereby becoming more intelligent.

Who is Joshua R. Stevens and what is his contribution to the script's discussion on intelligence?

Joshua R. Stevens is a comic book artist and is considered insightful and intelligent by the speaker. His comment about the 'idiot' being locked inside their own understanding highlights the importance of expanding one's thinking beyond current limits.

What is the Plato's Cave allegory and how does it relate to the script's message?

Plato's Cave allegory is a story where prisoners mistake shadows for reality, illustrating the limited understanding of the world. It relates to the script's message by emphasizing the need to look beyond our current understanding to achieve a better life.

What are some of the specific behaviors and tools suggested in the script to improve thinking skills?

The script suggests cultivating epistemic humility, practicing metacognition, leveraging the Johari window, utilizing Socratic questioning and SWAT, and participating in intellectual communities.

How does the script recommend maintaining and modifying a structured diagram of problems and challenges over time?

The script recommends using critical thinking tools to structure the diagram, such as epistemic humility, metacognition, the Johari window, Socratic questioning, and SWAT, and to revisit and modify the diagram regularly.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Expanding Cognitive Horizons

The first paragraph discusses the profound impact that improving our thinking skills can have on our lives. It emphasizes that individuals are often limited by their own intellect and that many limitations are self-imposed due to our understanding of the world. The script suggests that we have control over our responses to immutable characteristics and are responsible for the trajectory of our lives. It introduces the idea that our world view is a result of our cognitive schemas and that improving our thinking skills is crucial. The paragraph also touches on the three factors typically studied in intelligence—genetic, environmental, and developmental—and points out that behavior, which is within our control, is often overlooked. The goal of the video is to explore behaviors that can make us more intelligent, starting with insights from Joshua R. Stevens, a comic book artist, and moving on to discuss the concept of 'idiocy' as being locked within one's own understanding. The paragraph concludes with a reference to Plato's Cave allegory, suggesting that the primary goal is to extend our thinking beyond our current understanding.

05:01

📚 Tools for Enhancing Thought Processes

The second paragraph delves into specific strategies for improving our thinking skills. It introduces the concept of a structured diagram or 'mind map' as a method for cataloging and maintaining a record of thoughts over time. The paragraph outlines several intellectual tools and strategies for personal development, including listening and entering into true dialogue, practicing epistemic humility, metacognition, leveraging the Johari window, utilizing Socratic questioning, and SWAT analysis, and participating in intellectual communities. The importance of modifying and maintaining this diagram over time is stressed, as is the need for personal reflection and the continuous expansion of one's understanding. The paragraph concludes by reiterating the process of diagramming problems and challenges, both professional and personal, and using critical thinking tools to structure this diagram for ongoing improvement.

10:02

🎨 Artistic Endeavors and Personal Projects

The third paragraph shifts focus to the speaker's personal projects, providing an update on their work in the studio. It mentions a limited edition, signed and numbered screen print portrait of typographer Ed Benad, which is one of many projects the speaker has been working on. The paragraph serves as a brief interlude, connecting the theoretical discussion of thinking skills with the speaker's practical application of these concepts in their own creative endeavors.

Keywords

💡Intellect

Intellect refers to the ability to reason, understand complex ideas, and solve problems. In the video's context, it is the foundation upon which individuals are said to be 'prisoners', suggesting that our cognitive abilities can limit us if we do not expand our thinking. The script emphasizes that while our intellect shapes our lives, it is not fixed and can be improved through behavior and learning.

💡Self-imposed limitations

Self-imposed limitations are constraints that individuals place on themselves, often due to their beliefs or understanding of the world. The video discusses how many of our limitations are not inherent but are a result of our mindset. An example from the script is the idea that we are prisoners to our own intellect, implying that by changing our mindset, we can overcome these limitations.

💡Cognitive schemas

Cognitive schemas are mental frameworks that shape our understanding and interpretation of the world. The video mentions that the world we see is a result of our cognitive schemas, meaning that our perceptions are influenced by these internal structures. The script suggests that by modifying these schemas, we can change our view of the world and our lives.

💡Epistemic humility

Epistemic humility is the recognition of the limits of one's knowledge and the openness to new information and perspectives. The video emphasizes the importance of practicing epistemic humility to improve thinking skills. It is exemplified in the script by the suggestion to approach discussions with the understanding that one can learn from others and to be open to new ideas.

💡Metacognition

Metacognition is the process of thinking about one's own thinking, which includes being aware of and able to regulate one's cognitive processes. The video script encourages practicing metacognition by reflecting on how we solve problems and make decisions, which is essential for improving our thinking skills and understanding our cognitive biases.

💡Johari Window

The Johari Window is a model used to identify and develop self-awareness, including recognizing one's own strengths and weaknesses as well as areas unknown to oneself. In the video, the Johari Window is suggested as a tool to expand the open area of self-awareness, to reduce blind spots, and to increase understanding through feedback from others.

💡Socratic questioning

Socratic questioning is a method of inquiry and discussion between individuals, derived from the teachings of Socrates, which involves asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas. The video script mentions utilizing Socratic questioning to challenge assumptions and to probe deeper into understanding through a disciplined sequence of questions.

💡SWOT analysis

SWOT analysis stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It is a strategic planning tool used to identify and analyze the internal and external factors that relate to business or project planning. In the video, SWAT (a variant of SWOT) is recommended for developing strategies that leverage strengths and opportunities while addressing weaknesses and mitigating threats.

💡Intellectual community

An intellectual community refers to a group of individuals who engage in discussions, share ideas, and collaborate on intellectual pursuits. The video script encourages participation in intellectual communities to broaden perspectives, listen to others, and engage with diverse viewpoints, which is crucial for expanding one's thinking.

💡Behavioral similarities

Behavioral similarities refer to patterns of actions or behaviors that are common among individuals within a certain group. The video script discusses observing behavioral similarities among high-performing artists and designers, suggesting that certain behaviors can be linked to higher intelligence and can be adopted to improve one's own thinking.

💡Idiot cosm

The term 'idiot cosm' is a play on the idea of a cosmology or worldview, suggesting that an 'idiot' is someone who is trapped within their own limited understanding of the world. The video uses this concept to illustrate the importance of breaking out of one's own limited perspective to achieve greater intelligence and understanding.

Highlights

The profound impact of improving thinking skills on our lives

Individuals as prisoners to their own intellect

Limitations are often self-imposed due to our understanding of the world

Our life's trajectory is shaped by our responses to immutable characteristics

The importance of controlling our response to life's events

The world we see is a result of our cognitive schemas

Proverbs 23:7 emphasizes the power of thought in shaping who we are

The ability to improve thinking skills is crucial for personal growth

Research into intelligence often overlooks behavioral factors

Behavior is within our control unlike genetics and environment

High-performing artists and designers share behavioral similarities

The goal of behaving more intelligently to improve intelligence

Joshua R. Stevens' insight on the nature of idiocy and intelligence

Plato's Cave allegory and the need to extend our thinking beyond current limits

Tools to think better: epistemic humility, metacognition, and the Johari window

The importance of Socratic questioning and SWAT in critical thinking

Participating in intellectual communities to expand perspectives

Maintaining a structured diagram of problems and challenges over time

The process of modifying behavior and expanding understanding for a better life

Studio update and the release of a limited edition print of typographer Ed Benguiat

Transcripts

the ability to improve our thinking

skills can have a profound impact on our

lives individuals are prisoners to their

own intellect our lives are shaped by

our knowledge beliefs and values many if

not most of our limitations are

self-imposed and the result of the way

that we understand the world when we

close our eyes and open them up to a

great degree the thing that we see our

life is the result of our beliefs about

the world and about ourselves while we

can't control many of the things things

that happened to us in our lives where

we were born to which parents our race

sex the year political climate or the

culture we were born into we can control

our response to these immutable

characteristics we can control how we

respond in some very real ways we are

responsible for the trajectory of Our

Lives we are

responseable it's a statement of

objective fact to suggest that we choose

our response to the events and

circumstances of Our Lives the world we

see is the result of our cognitive

schemas Proverbs 23:7

says for as he thinketh in his heart so

is he or as a person thinketh so shall

they be we construct our lives from the

raw materials of thought and maybe more

importantly we are limited by our

thoughts this is why the ability to

improve our thinking skills is so

important important improve thinking

improve

life most Research into intelligence

focuses on three factors genetic

environmental and developmental the

component that's missing from this

equation is behavior as aead of a

graduate program I have repeatedly seen

behavioral similarities in high-

performing artists and designers I've

come to the understanding that there are

a set of behaviors of high IQ now the

important point in this is that unlike

genetics and to some degree environment

behavior is within our control we are

responsible for our Behavior we have

agency with our Behavior we can focus on

and modify our Behavior that's the goal

of this video we can be more intelligent

by behaving more

intelligently now with this in mind

let's take a look at some very specific

ideas on how to improve our thinking

skills Joshua R Stevens is a comic book

artist whose work I followed for 25

years this can't be understated that

this guy's maybe the most insightful and

intelligent person that I know there's a

link in the description below to his

work his graphic novels are killer I

would suggest that you look into

it in typical Joshua Ray fashion in one

of our many conversations he made an

off-handed and deceptively profound

comment that I've talked about many

times on this channel he made the

comment that the idiot is the person who

is locked inside of their own idioc cosm

the ID OT is a prisoner to the limits of

their understanding of their own

understanding this Insight from Joshua

is an arrow through the heart of the

issue the opposite of the intelligent

human being is the idiot this

realization helps us can help us

construct a plan a way out of idiocy in

Plato's Cave allegory prisoners are

chained to a wall in a cave and mistake

the Shadows on the wall for reality the

allegory illustrates again the of

understanding and and points to the need

to look Beyond those limits in the

allegory one escapes sees the true world

and returns to Enlighten the others who

of course resist and reject him so the

primary goal it would seem is to extend

our Thinking Beyond the limits of our

current understanding in order to make a

better life here are some tools to think

better we must above all else reach into

the unknown

unknowns now how do we do this how do we

extend our Thinking Beyond the limits of

our understanding here are the behaviors

the tools to reach outside of

ourselves I'll give a simple method to

use these actions as we step through the

video cultivate epistemic

humility practice

metacognition Leverage The Johari window

utilize Socratic questioning and

SWAT and participate in intellectual

community communities this method

depends upon you diagramming

cataloging recording and maintaining a

record of these thoughts and this

process over time how I absolutely hate

the term mind map because I think it

does a great disservice so maintain a

diagram over time a mind map a

structured diagram of your problems and

challenges over time here we can see on

the screen a digital forms that this

might take now you don't you need not

use necessarily digital tools you could

use Post-it notes a Sketchbook you could

have a wall with it on it there are many

many different ways to uh to diagram

these problems the important component

is that you need to be able to modify

and to restructure the diagram quickly

and you need to be able to maintain it

over time also there should be personal

highly personal information in in on

this diagram so you might not want to

make this something that is in a public

space you're going to use the following

strategies and intellectual tools

established intellectual tools to

structure this diagram the first and

arguably most important component in

reaching beyond our idioc cosm beyond

our own idiocy beyond our current limits

is

listening to listen is to enter into

dialogue true dialogue with others and

others ideas listening is the ability to

suspend our preconceived notions and

accept others perspectives as true the

second important component is to

practice epistemic humility to

acknowledge the limits of our knowledge

to be open to new information and

perspectives to start with the attitude

that I don't know everything to approach

discussions with

others with the understanding that you

can learn from others to try to truly

learn and to be humble

to practice metacognition we need to

regularly reflect on our thinking

process by asking ourselves questions

about how we solve problems and make

decisions now you need to Monitor and

evaluate your understanding of these

strategies and adjust them as you need

as you improve your learning and problem

solving skills metacognition literally

means thinking about thinking you need

to spend time scheduled regular time

thinking about your thinking thinking

about this process these issues and this

diagram you need to use the Johari

window in order to identify sh sh and

share your thoughts and your work and

your feelings with others to expand the

open

area seek feedback from others to reduce

your blind spots to reduce the not known

to S the unknown show your work to

others take notes and listen to what

they say listen actually listen in order

to enlarge the areas of the Johari

window that are in fact known to the

self try to break out of your own idioc

cosm five is to utilize critical

thinking tools like Socratic questioning

and SWAT with Socratic questioning we

identify our assumptions then we ask

questions that challenge these

assumptions in a in a disciplined

sequence sequence of probing questions

to use SWAT we identify and list

internal

strengths weaknesses opportunities and

threats and then we use this analysis to

develop strategies that leverage our

strengths and opportunities while

addressing weaknesses and mitigating

threats six is to participate in

intellectual communities join discussion

groups attend conferences and engage

with communities of Learners get

involved get outside of your own

perspective listen to others now the

most important component of this aside

from listening is to maintain over time

and return to and modify a structured

diagram of your problems and challenges

track these ideas over time in diagram

form so what is the process the process

is to diagram your problems both

professional and personal they are

linked they are the same thing maintain

that diagram and modify it over time and

use existing critical thinking Tools in

order to structure this diagram what are

those tools cultivate epistemic humility

practice metac cognition Leverage The

Johari window utilize Socratic

questioning and SWAT participate in

intellectual

communities through modifying our

behavior and ex expanding our

understanding Beyond ourselves we can

get smarter this translates to more

power it translates to more agency it

translates to a better life

over the course of the last couple

videos I've been asked repeatedly in the

comments for a studio update I figured I

would put this at the end of my

videos this is one just one of many

things that I have been working on this

week in the

studio uh the my uh two videos ago I

produced a video entitled I'm going to

tell you exactly how to become an

excellent designer where I recount a

story where when I was 19 years old I

met the typographer Ed benad this is a

hand pulled three-color fluorescent

ink uh screen print portrait of the

typographer Ed benat it's uh an addition

of 50 it was signed and numbered it

dropped yesterday and it is just one of

many many things that is popping in my

studio