Today is the day to… Be Clear

Source for material… All material is from 25 Days to Better Thinking & Better Living: A Guide for Improving Every Aspect of Your Life, by Dr. Linda Elder & Dr. Richard Paul, Pearson, 2006.

Clarity problems Thinking which is vague fuzzy blurred Which sounds good, but doesn’t really say anything… This kind of thinking is anything but clear!

What is the real meaning? Look on the surface. Dig below the surface. Try to figure out the real meaning, e.g. of important news stories. What is the real meaning of what people are saying? (Drs. Elder and Paul)

The authors remind us that… …unclear thinking is a significant problem in human life. Vague Ambiguous Muddled Deceptive Misleading

Remember that… “Our own thinking usually seems clear to us, even when it is not.” …and furthermore, “Begin to note how often people assume that others understand them when what they have said is, in fact, unintelligible, muddy, or confusing.” (Elder & Paul, Ibid)

Strategies… To improve your ability to clarify your thinking (in your own mind, when speaking to others, when writing) the authors suggest the following : 1.State one point at a time. 2.Elaborate on what you mean. 3.Give examples that connect your thoughts to life experiences. 4.Use analogies and metaphors to help people connect your ideas to what they may already understand. (Elder and Paul, Ibid)

Strategies, cont’d - e.g., “I think…(state your main point) “In other words…” (elaborate, sticking to your main point) “For example…” (give an example) “To give you an analogy…(give an illustration of your main point) (Ibid)

To clarify other people’s thinking ASK QUESTIONS “Can you restate your point in other words? I didn’t understand you.” “Can you give me an example?” “Let me summarize what I understand you to be saying. Do I understand you correctly?”

Take the simple route to clarity and simply state, “I don’t understand what you are saying. Can you state your point in other words?” Elder and Paul remind us that “very often, the simple intellectual moves are the most powerful.” (Elder and Paul, Ibid.)

…more strategies: You can practice summarizing in your own words what others say; then ask them if you understood correctly. Explain your idea to someone else to help clarify it in your own mind. Write out your idea first; this will ferret out fuzzy thinking in short order.

As you begin to use these strategies, Notice how seldom others use these strategies. Begin to notice how often people assume that others understand them.

You will get better and better “As you focus on these strategies, you will find that your thinking becomes clearer and clearer, and you’ll get better and better at clarifying others’ thinking.” (Elder and Paul, Ibid.)

“Muddled thinking is the first step on the road to a muddled life.” -Anonymous

FOR REAL GAIN…REFLECT DAILY OR WEEKLY Print the next slide for notes about your daily reflections…this will help you to internalize, as you know. (Remember to select “print current slide only” or you will use up all your ink…perhaps print 5 cys for the week, etc…) “As you proceed, you will begin to connect and interrelate the various days; the tapestry becomes richer;… the ideas powerful.” (authors Paul & Elder)

DAILY REFLECTION NOTES TODAY, I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN USING THE FOLLOWING IDEAS/STRATEGIES: THE KEY INSIGHTS THAT EMERGED FOR ME TODAY WERE: ONE PROBLEM IN MY THINKING THAT I NOW REALIZE IS: I PLAN TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM USING THE FOLLOWING STRATEGY: