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Deeper Thinking

“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably why so few people engage in it.” — Henry Ford

You’ve seen it, one of the most well-known and recognizable sculptures in the world. You know it as The Thinker by Auguste Rodin.

What does The Thinker say to you? Most, without pause, would say that thinking is important. While true, there is something more significant to the message of the art.

Here is how Rodin explained it: “What makes my Thinker think is that he thinks not only with his brain, with his knitted brow, his distended nostrils and compressed lips, but with every muscle of his arms, back, and legs, with his clenched fist and gripping toes.”*

When was the last time you thought that hard?

WHY THINK?

Thinking is something you do continually but rarely stop to think about—the process is called metacognition: thinking about thinking. Intentional and correct thinking offers great benefits.

1. Thinking Creates Your Vision and Your Plans

A vision without thinking becomes a daydream. Thinking is about more than having an idea: it is also about giving form to those ideas and formulating plans. Strategies are ideas with legs.

2. Thinking Enables You to See What Others Don’t

The only thing that limits your thinking is your own imagination. People talk about having second thoughts. Effective thinkers have third and fourth thoughts and beyond. Being willing to think better, longer, and harder gives you an edge.

3. Thinking Identifies Important Problems and Solutions

Most problems are easy to identify, tougher to frame, and even harder to solve. You can react to a problem, but finding a solution is proactive. Thinking is about anticipating problems and solving them before they develop or worsen. It is about spotting trends and drawing conclusions about what to do about them.

4. Thinking Eliminates Errors and Assumptions

Inattention to the process of thinking leaves us at risk for unexamined errors and assumptions. Thinking well helps us identify those mistakes and beliefs that potentially keep us from improving.

How to Think Better

1. Make time to think hard.
2. Focus on thinking about what and how to improve.
3. Eliminate errors and outdated thinking.
4. Stimulate your brain.
5. Write down your thoughts.

* “NGA Sculpture Galleries: Auguste Rodin” (Adobe Flash), National Gallery of Art website, zone 2, accessed October 25, 2016, http://www.nga.gov/collection/sculpture/flash/zone2–2.htm.