The Importance of Critical Thinking in Decision-making
Critical thinking is a skill that has had a profound impact on how I approach problems and make decisions. In the IDG framework, critical thinking is described as the ability to review the validity of views, evidence, and plans. This means going beyond accepting information at face value and instead asking questions, analyzing the sources, and considering different perspectives.
One of the key moments when I realized the power of critical thinking was during a major life decision—choosing a career path. I felt overwhelmed by opinions from family, friends, and societal expectations. However, by applying critical thinking, I began evaluating the evidence behind the advice I was given. Was it based on current job market trends, or was it rooted in outdated beliefs? I also considered my own interests and long-term vision for my life. This process helped me feel more confident in my decision, knowing it was well-thought-out rather than influenced by external pressures.
In today's world, where we are bombarded with information from various sources, critical thinking is essential. It allows us to navigate through misinformation and make informed choices, both in our personal and professional lives.
Discussion Prompt:
- How do you practice critical thinking when faced with important decisions or overwhelming amounts of information?
- Have you ever applied critical thinking to challenge your own beliefs? What was the outcome?
@ChillingRain
Critical thinking skills are a tough set of skills to master- but doing so can really expose secrets about yourself you may not have been aware of in the past! I've noticed, after the many years of making it a habit to journal and reflect, that I often act with over-empathy and give people second, third, or even fourth chances once they hurt me. Recognizing that fault in myself has helped me become more aware of the logic behind a situation.
It's not a bad thing to put a critical eye on things, including yourself. It's important to be aware of flaws and short comings so that you can actively grow from them! 💛
@ChillingRain
Critical thinking is super important in making decisions and problem-solving, as this self-directed skill enables one to conceptualize, analyze information, synthesize relevant data, and assess source credibility. When we can evaluate sources, identify and challenge biases, consider other perspectives and options, based on evidence and reason and make informed decisions, we enhance our decision-making and problem-solving abilities in all areas of our life.
Critical thinking is very interrelated to many of the other skills discussed in the IDG course, especially having a growth mindset, practicing active listening, and fostering humility. To be a critical thinker one must make sure the information is credible and we do that by examining credentials and expertise, considering potential biases or conflicts of interest, and analyzing the quality of the evidence. One must also be able to identify and challenge biases since these can really impact the quality of one’s decision-making process. To reduce the influence of biases, one must recognize and acknowledge one’s own biases and assumptions (assumptions are a big one for me personally), actively seek and consider alternative viewpoints, and question the validity of one’s own beliefs and the beliefs of others. After we gather and evaluate the information it must be synthesized to make an informed decision; therefore, when weighing options and making decisions, one must identify and compare the potential options or solutions, consider the short and long-term consequences of each option, and make a decision based on the best available evidence and reasoning.
To be a better critical thinker, we must cultivate that growth mindset and emrace challenges, learn from setbacks, and maintain a positive attitude towards growth. We must be willling to admit when we are wrong and seek feedback from others, while valuing diverse perspectives. We must also practice active listening.
@ChillingRain
Critical thinking is one of the core parts of my belief system so there's really nothing to challenge.
@ChillingRain
As someone with personality type Logician (INTP-T), it's in my nature to be a critical thinker but for those who find it harder, i think its best to try applying it at least once a day in their daily activities to foster easy adaption.
