REASONING These daily practices are suggestions. Do what feels right to you. Go as far as you are capable. Remember, sometimes rest is the best practice. Oh… and you might want a journal or notebook for these practices. MONDAY 15
16
Evaluate all viewpoints 22
TUESDAY
Think long-term 23
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
17
18
Sort feelings from facts 24
Recognize biases 25
FRIDAY 19
SATURDAY 20
Ask probing Examine the questions pros & cons 26
27
SUNDAY 21 Have a positive attitude 28
Mon 15 EVALUATE ALL VIEWPOINTS Identify where you land in regards to a commonly debated belief. For example, one commonly debated topic is climate change. Now evaluate all viewpoints. Examine every argument from both sides. Be sure to notice who’s behind each viewpoint and what has informed each opinion. Is there research to back up that view? Who did that research? Is the source credible or is there bias present? What do those who hold those viewpoints have to gain by adhering to them?
Tue 16 THINK LONG TERM Consider the consequence of a certain belief you have about another group of people. Does this belief disadvantage any in that group? Has your belief done more good in history or caused more harm? What would the future look like for that group if you and others no longer held this belief? Wed 17 SORT FEELINGS FROM FACTS Feelings are very important indicators that shouldn’t be ignored. But if you have deep feelings about a commonly-held belief, sort your personal feelings from facts. You might say to yourself, “My feelings are one thing, but are they true? Are there any documented, researched, agreed-upon, proven facts that can back them up?” Thu 18 ACKNOWLEDGE BIASES A Very Well Mind wrote a great article about how biases can distort our reasoning. Read it so you can know the different categories of bias. Biases are not a bad thing. We all have them. They influence how we think, feel and behave. They're only problematic when we don’t acknowledge or challenge them. Very Well Mind: List of Cognitive Biases Fri 19 ASK PROBING QUESTIONS Question everything, but by asking deeper questions that are open-ended and non-accusatory. Instead of making an assumption about someone else’s belief or opinion, become more curious about them as a human being. Probe their story. And be sure to ask follow-up questions. Don’t debate. Don’t ask them to prove themselves or their opinions. Don’t ask questions about why they believe what they believe – instead, ask them about their lives.
Sat 20 EXAMINE THE PROS AND CONS Are your beliefs or views serving you? List the pros and cons of adhering to a certain belief you hold. If the cons outweigh the pros, perhaps it’s time to reconsider your viewpoint or, at the very least, stop arguing with others about it. Sun 21 HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE Look for the bright things in life, including the places from which you receive your information. Are those resources optimistic? Do they point out the positives of life more so than they do the negatives? Do those that you follow have joy and smile often or is their message often delivered with snark and sarcasm? Do you feel better or worse about the world after engaging with those resources? Do you feel challenged to do better in the world, or driven by fear to retreat, block others and self-preserve?
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!