Practice The Thought Process
Each time we say the word “think” or “thought” we could use that moment to consciously practice the thought process. Each time we hear someone use the word “think” or “thought” or read each word, we could practice using our thought process to see if we come up with the same conclusions and decisions. Here is just one of thousands of daily examples.A high school student recently stated he “has a hard time thinking a mass shooting could happen at his school.”One of our main questions should be, How can this be in light of numerous school shootings in America in recent years?
Breakdown The Statement Being Made
The main words in the sentence are “thinking” and “hard.”“Hard” is more important in this sentence because this teenager finds it hard to think. He is not saying he can't think.
Why does he find it hard to think? Most likely it's due to fear. Fear gets in the way of clear thinking.
As a result, this soon to be legal adult has basically decided “it can't happen at my school.”
We know this is an inappropriate conclusion and decision.
Brief Breakdown Of The Process
What makes thinking about something hard?When there's no process. In the absence of process, what happens? The mind follows the strongest influence related to the thought. In this example, the strongest influence is emotion. The conclusion reached through the emotional thought processor is given the greatest weight. So based on the emotion of fear, the decision is reached that it can't happen at my school. The result is an inappropriate decision. If this teenager was taught the thought process, the mental thought processor would also process information. In this case the information is historical evidence of the trend, nature and widespread distribution in school shootings. The mental conclusion would be that it could happen anywhere and this would at least be given equal weight to the emotional conclusion. As a result, the child would likely reach the decision that it is possible for a shooting to occur at his school no matter how unsettling the realization is. This is very different from deciding it can't happen. The thought process is the difference between inappropriate and appropriate decisions and behaviors.
Summing Up The Breakdown
From this breakdown of the thought process, we can easily see how just one single missed step, incomplete information or assumption can significantly change how life is lived. Due to cause and effect, the thought process affects conclusions which affects decisions which affects behaviors which affects desired results. We should use the thought process and the Prayerful Religion Review as two, of many, powerful tools to help us live as intended.We must use our time and other resources to investigate thought processes to ensure they are not detrimental. This applies to our thought processes and the thought processes of others.How To Get Past Fear
