The ability to think critically is one of the most valuable skills available to a person. By forming a judgment based upon a thoughtful analysis of available information, better decisions can be made, and short and long term issues can be avoided, mitigated, or prepared for. Thinking critically requires an educated perspective in order to be of any value.

The opposite of critical thinking is a rush to judgment based upon an uninformed perspective, and is often characterized by a resistance to opposing perspectives. People who don’t exert the effort to think critically are prone to being the unfortunate victims of manipulation in one form or another. Propaganda campaigns, for instance, rely upon the fact that people will not look too far below the covers before they form an opinion.

One of the things that is concerning about the world today is that there seems to be a concerted effort to keep you from thinking critically. People that don’t think critically are more easily susceptble to advertising and to following the will of others. A certain dearth of critical thinking even dominates the way news is presented nowadays – thinking in terms of absolutes and biases is encouraged. For instance, have you ever heard the phrase “you’re either with us or against us”?

So, critical thinking is a valuable skill to have, right? The question, then, is why don’t people exercise critical thinking more often? Well, besides being discouraged, the real answer is probably closer to the fact that it requires effort – an effort that ultimately pays dividends in all aspects of life. You’re more easily able to discern when you’re being led to forming an opinion based upon incomplete or outright false information. You can recognize that you will is being subverted and take corrective actions. You can save yourself time, money, and otherwise enrich your life through perspective.

So, how do you get there? A good start is to question everything. That doesn’t mean you should never believe anything you hear, just choose to do your own homework first. Another component is the abililty to change your conclusion based upon new information. Realize when you’re being lied to, and think about motive and intent in your analysis. Read. Take your time, and don’t let others force you into making split-second judgments. Recognize when people are being open and honest with you, and reward that type of behavior. Let people know that you aren’t falling for for their deceptive practices when you see them. And, don’t forget to take pride in your capabilities.