Mindlessness. It’s a plague. There’s a cure.

Mindlessness.  It’s not good.  It’s everywhere.  It’s a plague.  And, it may even be the root cause of our current global economic situation.

In Amber Naslund‘s recent post ”Critical thought is an endangered species“and in the comments that follow, the general conclusion seems to be that not thinking [mindlessness] is easier than thinking. It’s easier to go with the flow. It’s easier to do what you’re told. It’s easier to join the whining hordes. It’s easier to follow the path of least resistance.

Why would that be? Are we just lazy? Maybe we’re just not curious?

Or perhaps it’s just that we’ve never learned to think and ask questions.  We haven’t been, and aren’t, challenged to think by our teachers, mentors and coaches, leaders – CEOs, Prime Ministers, Bishops or Rabbis, Generals, etc. – fathers and mothers, friends and colleagues.  We aren’t encouraged to ask good questions? Heck to ask any questions.

As Amber concluded: “We have to snap the hell out of it.”  But how?

Stop being lazy. Get curious. Don’t wait to be encouraged. Practice asking questions.  Learn how to ask better and better questions.   [BTW - this is the basis of structural consulting as taught by Robert and Rosalind Fritz.  Full disclosure: I'm a big fan of their work and have been studying with them and using the principles of structural dynamics to better support my clients for many years]

As an exercise, next time you’re reading anything, watching tv or a movie, in your next conversation or meeting:

1. Start with nothing – no preconceived notions, no comparative thinking [this is actually harder than it sounds]
2. Picture what is being said, not what you think is, could or should be being said.
3. And ask a question where there’s one to ask [i.e. where there's a discrepancy, a need for clarification, an implication, etc.] – if you’re reading, watching tv or a movie this may be the end of the exercise unless you’re only part way through, in which case the answer may become apparent as you read/watch on and/or new questions will emerge.
4. Picture the answer
5. Repeat as needed. And encourage those around you to do the same.

And, let me know how it goes.  Mindfulness takes practice, so be patient.  Guaranteed it will be worth it.

For a little summer fun, check this out.  Is Perry Mason starting with nothing?

 

 

 

Tags: Amber Naslund, Behaviour change, Cultural norms, Robert Fritz, Structural dynamics, Structural thinking