On average, you think 50,000 – 70,000 thoughts per day, most of which are subconscious. In fact, about 90% of our conscious thinking is habitual and automatic, like a program running in the background of our minds. Our brains are wired to maximize efficiency, but is this efficiency helping or hurting our ability to make good decisions?
Think about this. Do you respond without thinking? How often do you jump to a conclusion? How do you handle an unexpected interruption? Ever get stuck in a pattern of negative thinking? Our responses are based on our habitual thinking patterns. So, if most of our thinking is habitual and automatic, what does that say about the quality of our thinking?
Improve your Thinking
To improve the quality of your thinking, and consequently your decision making, you need to raise your thinking to the conscious level. In other words, you need to start thinking more about your thinking! One way to do this is by asking more questions. By asking questions, you cause a “pattern interrupt” and are engaging your brain – bringing your thinking to your conscious awareness. By giving yourself even a split second more, helps you slow down enough to hear yourself think.
Just One Question
This one question will improve your thinking, and could quite possibly change your life: The Central Question of Live, Love and Leadership:
What choice can I make and action can I take,
in this moment,
to create the greatest net value?
Imagine asking yourself this question every morning as you establish your priorities for the day? How about before entering an important meeting? Or taking on a large task that needs your attention? Maybe before a conversation with your significant other, teenager or child? How much could this one question impact your decision making? Learning to use this question, as often as possible throughout your day, is the key to using your best thinking, more often!
Change Your Thinking
I encourage you to take on this 7-day challenge ~ ask yourself this question every day, throughout the day, as often as possible, and notice what happens over the next week. Share with me what you notice. I can’t wait to hear from you!
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Kristin Clark is a certified Axiogenics Coach, guiding individuals and organizations in leadership development by learning to make better value-based decisions, Linking their Thinking to Create Performance Improvement in their personal and professional lives. Learn more at: www.YourInsightCoach.com.