Tag Archives: critical thinking

(Issue #538) The Package And The Person


Maybe if we focus on the person, we may come to see the packaging in a different light. “They’re nice but, you know, they belong to that political party.” “She’s a retired teacher. So cheerful. Just don’t understand how she … Continue reading

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(Issue #537) Critical Thinking Revisited


Critical thinking is not only looking for information that supports what we want to hear, see, or believe. It helps us see the fallacies in our assumptions. A few of the student success textbooks I wrote for Pearson Education focused … Continue reading

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(Issue #532) For What It’s Worth


Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong. -Stephen Stills-  What consequences evolve when lines drawn in the sand become immovable walls? We could say the walls reflect the non-negotiable values that people stand up for and believe. A moral code.  Opposing walls … Continue reading

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(Issue #527) Criticism and Your Counterfactual


 “I am aware that I am less than some people prefer me to be, but most people are unaware that I am so much more than what they see.” ― Douglas Pagels, author— An American journalist observed that “a critic is … Continue reading

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(Issue #521) Sunrise, Clouds, and the News


Some people and groups focus on the darkness and what might happen. Others ignore warning signs and look only at what they consider to be brightness. First, the sunrise. I have found the best time to view sunrise on the … Continue reading

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(Issue #498) 30-30-30-30-30-30-30


If you have no difficulty identifying, setting, and achieving goals, skip this post. I don’t want to get in your way. Pass it along to someone who can benefit from it. As I listened to someone speak about a big … Continue reading

Posted in action, Discipline, Dreams, Excuses, Grit, growth, habits, Life lessons | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

(Issue #490) Calling for Deliberative Dialogues. 


Acknowledge common ground to build a more unified and proactive community. Every day we find ourselves bombarded by lots of talking.  When fortunate, we get to hear and engage in real conversations. Speaking, listening, questioning, listening, responding, questioning, listening, and … Continue reading

Posted in accountability, Civility, collaboration, collective monolgues, Community, community development, confirmation bias, consideration, conversation, Critical Thinking, emotional intelligence, Gratitude, growth, habits, Mindfulness, mindset, resilience | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

(#486) A Metaphor for Growth and Resilience


Some will experience a metamorphosis they never dreamed they could attain. Others will quietly walk away. I always looked forward to the first day of the semester. As a teacher, that first day came full of anticipation for me and … Continue reading

Posted in awareness, change, change management, courage, curiosity, emotional intelligence, empathy, Goals, Grit, Life lessons, resilience, tenacity | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

(Issue #483) Think in Reverse


Ask yourself what you need to do to create what you do not want. Wasn’t it Einstein who said that if we keep doing the same thing and expect different results, we’re idiots?  Well, I’m sure he didn’t use the … Continue reading

Posted in assumptions, creating your future, Creativity, Critical Thinking, curiosity, Discipline, Life lessons, problem solving | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

(Issue #476) Red Team Analysis


Reaching critically reviewed, dissected, and discussed decisions may require creative thinking about how to do it. Critical thinking, though, is not a synonym for creative thinking. I received a reminder about the simple eloquence of critical thinking during a recent … Continue reading

Posted in accountability, Critical Thinking, Life lessons, red team analysis | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments