Niks
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Improve your critical thinking
One of the pioneers of Western philosophical thought, Socrates, was on trial. The philosopher was accused by many Athenians of corrupting the youth and refusing to acknowledge their gods, leading many to fear he was a dangerous enemy of the state. However, Socrates was feared for asking too many questions rather than for claiming to have all the answers. Although he detested formal lectures, the philosopher frequently had in-depth discussions about morality and society with friends and complete strangers. These were not debates, nor would Socrates give direct counsel.In truth, the philosopher frequently asserted that he knew absolutely nothing, merely asking new questions in response to his partner's answers. But during this exchange, Socrates questioned their reasoning, exposing its gaps and assisting both parties in coming to a more complete understanding. Socrates won the affection of his followers because of his perceptive questioning. Plato and Xenophon, two of his pupils, were so moved by their inspiration that they imitated their teacher's method in make-believe conversations. These made-up conversations serve as ideal illustrations of what would later be referred to as the Socratic Method. In one of these made-up dialogues, Socrates is talking to a young guy by the name of Euthydemus who is certain that he knows what justice and injustice are. By asking the pupil to categorize behaviors like lying and theft as just or unjust, Socrates tests the student's moral principles. Euthydemus declares these to be injustices with confidence, but this simply begs the question: Is it proper for a general to trick or plunder an opposing army? Euthydemus amends his claim. He argues that these tactics are fair when used against adversaries but unfair when directed against friends.However, Socrates is not done yet. He challenges the young guy to imagine a commander inflating morale among his troops. In little time at all, Euthydemus is discouraged. Every solution appears to create new issues, so perhaps he is unsure of what justice actually is after all. Using this question-focused strategy, Socrates compared himself to a midwife whose questions help others give birth to their thoughts. His line of inquiry reveals an individual's unquestioned presumptions, which he then challenges.Although the method doesn't always offer conclusive solutions, it does make the questions clearer and get rid of any circular or conflicting reasoning. And by following a logical path of inquiry, both the questioner and the answerer may arrive to unexpected destinations. This method can be used in a wide range of fields because it is not constrained by the topic of the talk. The approach was used to instruct clinical medicine throughout the Renaissance. While a doctor questioned their presumptions and guided debate, students offered their justifications for various diagnoses. In this scenario, the technique might even lead to definitive findings.Later, other sciences like astronomy, botany, and mathematics adopted this same methodology. It was modified in the wake of the Protestant Reformation to address speculative issues with faith. The approach developed into a crucial component of American legal education in the 19th century. By presenting students with unexpected hypothetical circumstances, professors tested their comprehension of judicial reasoning. The Supreme Court still use this strategy to consider the unforeseen consequences of passing legislation. Almost every subject that calls for critical thinking may be taught using the Socratic Method, but how well it works depends on the teacher who uses it.A Socratic teacher must be knowledgeable in their field. Instead of making fun of their inferior intelligence or intimidating their students, teachers should be humble, genuinely curious, and appreciative of every input. The most deft Socratic instructor might not have been Socrates himself in this sense. Historiographers believe he had a strong distaste for the particular form of democracy practiced at Athens and was known to convey this distaste to his followers. Two of his students are believed to have been motivated to commit treason by these subversive ideals, which were misrepresented in public forums. Most likely because of these beliefs, Socrates was tried and ultimately found guilty, receiving a death sentence. However, even on his deathbed, painters portray a calm philosopher who is constantly curious to investigate the ultimate topic.
By Niks10 months ago in Motivation
Is it normal to talk to yourself?
You ask yourself, "Why did I set it so early?" as your alarm goes off in the morning. You may think to yourself as you are brushing your teeth, "I need a haircut... unless?" You grasp for your keys as you rush out the front door but they are nowhere to be seen. You exclaim in frustration, "I can't do anything right!" just in time to hear your neighbor overhear you. It might be embarrassing to be overheard talking to oneself, and some people may even stigmatize this habit as an indication of mental instability. However, years of psychological research have demonstrated that talking to oneself is totally natural. In reality, most of us—if not all of us—talk to ourselves in some way every day. And why do we converse with ourselves? And does it matter what we say? The narration that goes on within your head, also known as inner speech, is referred to as self-talk. It is distinct from mental imagery or remembering numbers and facts. Psychologists specifically describe self-talk as spoken thoughts that are directed at you or a certain aspect of your life. This includes private discussions such as "I need to work on my free throw." However, it also contains thoughts you have during the day, such as, "The gym is busy tonight. I'll return the following day. Speaking aloud to yourself also falls under this category, even though the majority of self-talk in adults tends to be silent. In fact, scientists contend that since youngsters frequently talk aloud to themselves while playing, our initial encounters with self-talk are largely vocal. Lev Vygotsky, a Russian psychologist, proposed the theory that this type of speech was essential to development in the 1930s. Children practice controlling their behaviour and emotions independently by reciting talks they've had with adults. Then, as kids age, this public self-talk has a tendency to turn into a personal interior monologue.We are aware that this internal dialogue is crucial since it can aid in planning, provide support in trying circumstances, and even serve as motivation throughout the day. But understanding self-talk can be challenging. It depends on research participants carefully documenting a behavior that occurs spontaneously and frequently without conscious thought. Because of this, researchers are still trying to find answers to fundamental issues like why some people talk to themselves more than others. What parts of the brain are active when you talk to yourself? What distinguishes this activation from a typical conversation? What you say in these interactions, though, can actually have an impact on your attitude and performance, and that much is certain.Self-talk that is instructional or motivating has been demonstrated to improve self-esteem, focus, and ability to complete daily chores. For instance, a study of collegiate tennis players discovered that practicing with instructive self-talk improved their focus and accuracy. And just as talking to a friend might make you feel less stressed, talking to yourself out loud can also help you control your emotions. Distant self-talk is when you speak to yourself as though you were having a conversation with someone else. You can therefore think, "Caleb, you are prepared for this test," as opposed to, "I'm going to crush this exam!" According to one study, using this style of self-talk can help you feel less stressed while performing anxiety-provoking activities like public speaking or meeting new people. Negative self-talk can hurt you, and positive self-talk can benefit you. The majority of people occasionally judge themselves, but when this activity becomes extremely regular or unpleasant, it can become poisonous. Both in children and adults, high levels of negative self-talk are frequently indicators of anxiety. And individuals who persistently dwell on their troubles and blame themselves for them often feel more depressed than others. Nowadays, a type of psychological therapy known as cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, focuses in part on controlling the manner in which one speaks to oneself. Cognitive behavioral therapists frequently share techniques for spotting negative thought patterns and replacing them with more positive or understanding ones. These techniques have the potential to enhance mental health over time. So be kind to yourself the next time you catch yourself talking to yourself. You'll be conversing with that inner voice for a very long time.
By Niks10 months ago in Motivation
How to manage your emotions
After a week of preparing, you and your friend are convinced that you succeeded in passing the exam on Friday, which you both need to ace to avoid taking summer school. However, the marks you receive back are significantly worse than what you and your partner anticipated. You're heartbroken. Your friend doesn't seem too worried, which makes you wonder why you can't get over this the way they can. But is attempting to see the bright side really necessary? And is it even feasible to manage our emotions in the first place? The answer to the previous query is emphatically "yes." There are many methods for controlling our emotions, and the Process Model is one framework for comprehending these methods. This tool is used by psychologists to determine when and how to enter the process of emotion formation. There are four stages to this process. The first is when we enter a scenario, either actual or imagined, and it grabs our attention. Then we assess the circumstance to see if it advances or obstructs our objectives. Finally, this evaluation results in a series of modifications to our feelings, thoughts, and behaviors known as an emotional response. A chance to actively intervene and alter our emotions is presented at each stage of this process, and the Process Model describes some tactics for doing so. Imagine being invited to the same party as your least favorite ex and their new partner in order to watch this in action. Your first course of action might be to skip the party in order to completely avoid the scenario. But if you go, you might also try to change things by deciding not to speak to your ex. If that's proving to be difficult, you might want to focus on something else instead of your ex's new partner, such playing a game with your pals. Reassessing your perspective on the circumstance is another approach. You can come to the conclusion that you don't care who your ex dates after giving things a serious second thought. If none of these tactics are successful, you can always attempt controlling your emotions after the fact. But this can be challenging. The simplest ways to accomplish this, such as masking your emotions or attempting to manipulate them with medicines, frequently result in longer-term bad emotions and health issues. Here, taking a long walk, inhaling slowly and deeply, or speaking with a member of your support network are more enduring solutions. The first part of the battle is learning to recognize your emotions and think on where they are coming from. It takes experience to use all these techniques effectively. And once you've really accepted the idea that you have the power to control your emotions, doing so gets much simpler. But should you rely on these methods all the time to stay cheerful? What constitutes a "good mood" depends on how you define it. No emotion is intrinsically good or evil; they are either beneficial or harmful depending on the situation. It's tempting to think that we should always try to avoid feelings of grief and irritation. For instance, feeling and expressing sadness when a friend confides in you about the death of a loved one is not only acceptable, but it can also enable you to empathize with and support them. On the other hand, faking a grin to get through a single discomfort is totally understandable, even though it's bad to suppress your feelings on a regular basis. We frequently receive conflicting messages regarding emotions. Some people counsel us to keep a positive attitude, while others advise us to simply accept our feelings as they arise. But in actuality, everyone needs to establish their own equilibrium. So, in response to the inquiry, "Should you always try to be happy?" No, is the response. According to studies, persons who are preoccupied with happiness frequently feel secondary negative emotions, such as guilt or annoyance for feeling disturbed and dissatisfaction that they are not happy. This does not imply that you should give in to grief or rage. But techniques like reappraisal can help you reconsider your perceptions of a circumstance, enabling you to acknowledge your sadness and foster optimism that things will turn out better.
By Niks10 months ago in Motivation
Stop Caring What People Think
"Don't waste the rest of your time here worrying about other people—unless it affects the common good," Marcus Aurelius wrote in Meditations. It will prevent you from taking action. You won't be able to concentrate on your own thoughts because you'll be too obsessed with what other people are doing, why they are doing it, what they are saying, what they are thinking, and what they are up to.Marcus, in my opinion, strikes on the major problem that prevents people from moving forward in life: attachment to what other people think of them. So I'll have a conversation to further explore this concept. --- When the clock strikes twelve in Shinjuku, a little bar opens for a few hours. Few people go there, but those that do are well-informed about what they're searching for. After a few beers tonight, Himari sits down by herself and strikes up the following chat with the bartender. B: "You'll never accomplish anything truly beneficial if you're attached to what other people think of you.""What do you mean?" asked H. B: "You'll never be yourself if you're concerned with what other people think of you. And if life has taught me anything, it's that the only truly useful thing anyone can do is be themselves. I don't understand, H. What good is being myself? B: "Being who you are is the source of true usefulness. Consider a tree: As a result of its existence, it produces fruits and oxygen. For us, the same is true. Being ourselves helps us do good things. But don't I always act like myself? B: "You're getting language-stuck.Let's take another look at the tree. Lack of water, sunlight, and competition in the environment are just a few of the factors that might prevent a tree from being itself. The tree cannot exist because of the obstacles. Being authentic means overcoming your own challenges. Being tied to what other people think of you is one of the biggest barriers to being yourself. H: "How does being concerned about what others think of me prevent me from being who I am?" B: "You have to be willing to defy people's expectations of you when you are being yourself. You must be prepared to let them down. You must be prepared for a poor response from them. However, someone who cares about what others think of them will not take that chance, so they wind up being what others want them to be rather than who they really are. I suppose you're right, H. What, then, can I do? To survive, I rely on what other people think of me. B: "Since you rely on other people's opinions for security, it follows that you are attached to what they think of you. However, if your relationship depends on meeting someone else's expectations, it isn't a true one. You are a slave to other people's perceptions of you. H: "That's true, but a prison still has security." B: "You are in a prison, though. Your entire existence has been exchanged for security. What more has to be secured? H: "I suppose that is true. I never gave it any thought. However, I will always rely on other people's opinions for security, regardless of what I do or where I go! Isn't that how things are in the world? B: "Does it matter what people think of you if you sell water in a desert? Their views don't matter if you can actually generate something of value. I suppose you're right, H. However, how do I create something worthwhile? B: "To inquire how a tree produces its fruit is absurd. I'll put it this way: Lack of water, sunlight, and competition imprison a tree. The fruit is the inevitable result when the tree escapes from these confinements and is totally unrestrained. What matters is how you can free yourself, not how you can create anything of value. Your fruit will appear of its own accord once you have broken free from all of your prisons. --- Marcus Aurelius once remarked that being concerned with other people's opinions would hinder you from achieving anything important. Through a dialogue, I investigated the significance of this statement. Being oneself is the most beneficial thing somebody can do. And there is no way to adequately express who we truly are. No matter if we consider ourselves to be excellent or awful, an artist or a lawyer, we are never just one thing. We are using a very little portion of our memory to define ourselves when we say things like, "I am a wife," "I am a mother," "I am a musician," or "I am a lawyer." Beyond our memories, we exist. Being oneself is the same as solving your own difficulties, and effectively solving your own problems is what enables you to assist others in solving their problems, which is why being oneself has actual worth. We will, however, always be what other people want us to be rather than who we truly are as long as we are wedded to what they think of us. And if we give up on ourselves, we give up on having any real value to offer the world. And if we give up on our capacity to actually benefit the world, we give up on what is possibly the only true form of security. The security of a prisoner, however, which is security in return for life, is security at all when we choose to be what other people want us to be. But ultimately, this is merely my interpretation of Marcus's remarks and does not constitute advise. Please feel free to use this material as you see fit. If you disagree with Marcus' statements, please share your thoughts in the comments.
By Niks10 months ago in Motivation