Thinking as Religion

[DensIdeasGroup]

One of my first clients, in 1999, after doing a day's course on the Six Thinking Hats with me - this was in Cornwall at the time - wrote to me and said that since her course she is "less stressed and solves problems more easily".

The Hungerford Guidance Centre takes youngsters who are too violent to be taken by normal schools. David Lane, Principal, did a 20-year follow-up after the youngsters did some thinking lessons. 90% of those who did the lessons did not re-offend.

We also have evidence of people who have got off drugs through better thinking, and children in trauma, who have recovered more quickly, after using the Six Thinking Hats, in that case together with a psychologst, because mental attitude is not generally encouraged in hospitals, neither is thinking taught in our schools and universities.

Taking thinking lessons improves mental health because a person has greater self esteem, confidence, and sense of self-worth and achievement.

Once a person knows what to do in their mind when problems occur, the person becomes happy and fulfilled, with far less stress.

Den - I am not at all shy of doing a CAF, and am generally quite keen on exploring this sort of thing, but I still don't understand what doing a CAF entails. I did read your Mumsnet example several times, but I can't find any common thread running through the items on the list which would explain to me the process which you went through in creating it.

How are intelligent people "bad thinkers"? To describe someone as intelligent means that we believe that they think well.

Like justa, I am sure there are many people who could benefit from learning techniques for "better thinking", but I'm not getting any sense from you of how this actually works. For some reason I'm still getting the feeling that you are here primarily to market yourself but I hope I'm wrong about this.

God bless you, Justa

Justa, ZD

First, intelligent people are often bad thinkers because their intelligence is used to protect ego and status. A point of view is arrived at emotionally then defended with logic. This is the intelligent thing to do. Being highly educated is no advantage to learning thinking skills, since they are so incredibly simple.

The Six Thinking Hats for example have been taught to natives of Papua New Guinea and South African Miners, who had never had a day's education in their lives. I have never doubted for a moment I'm talking to highly educated mums, that is the problem! Education has taught us that eveything must only be criticised - to show how clever we are.

I should hope that MN is scathing on propaganda - if there is any. I should also hope that MN is open to thinking, creativity and ideas. As far as I know, MN are not authorities on thinking. As far as I understand it, Dr Edward de Bono is internationally recognised as the father of thinking.

I gave two examples of a CAF and explained how to do it but there is a resistance based on a feeling that I am "marketing myself"? The process of the CAF was explained. Is it too simple? You simply just list the factors. You choose a topic then list all the factors that come to mind. Put being right or wrong out of your mind and just list the factors!

At risk of repeating myself over and over, if you really want the detail of how the process works, read Edward de Bono's "Mechanism of Mind" available from Amazon.

When you make a shopping list you are doing a CAF, but you do not stop to think of the process involved - you just do it. It's exactly the same with the CAF. You cannot make a mistake! All the factors that come to mind on a topic, provided you time yourself to list the factors on that topic, all the factors will be relevant (correct).

So, what I said was, the best way to understand the CAF is by doing it, and I showed you an example or two! If you do not want to play the game, just say so. I don't mind. But the reason will not be for lack of explanation! Perhaps a lack of will.

To be a thinker, one must WANT to be a thinker. This is very different from argument and superficial discussion. It is also as you well know, nothing to do with marketing. Try out the CAF. If you don't really want to, that's fine, just say so!

There is nothing whatsoever mysterious about thinking. De Bono Thinking is not based on discussion. The methods are proven to work around the world. The thinking tools are available to use if you want to use them. I was happy to guide you in their use if you want to try them for yourself?

Perhaps I was being provocative with my title Thinking as Religion. So I may have put some people's backs up. No harm done. We are all adults and educated people!

I've given my views on religion in the above threads. My interest is in de Bono thinking and the use of his tools. Has anybody ever tried using the tools been taught the tools, or read about any of the tools?

There is no topic "Thinking" on MN, so Education and Philosophy are the nearest equivalents. Thinking has more to do with biology, chemistry, physics and neuro-science than with religion or philosophy.

Having said that, religion is about belief, and belief is necessary for anything. For example, to be a thinker one must first believe in thinking. One must believe it is possible to be a thinker. One must also believe it is possible to have creative ideas. From this fundamental belief comes trust. A trainer pops out from the woodwork and offers to train mums (or anyone else) in thinking skills.

This is offered as a free service under the topic provided by MN.

Tiny snurk at Edward de Bono being "internationally recognised as the father of thinking."

OK Den, fair enough. You obviously have a passion for this subject.

I find mind maps very useful, if that helps at all - your CAF sounds not too disimilar.

dissimilar