Barriers That Influence My Thinking

Barriers that influence my thinking

One of the barriers that influence my thinking is the rationalization of my actions. I do not like to admit it, but I use it for everything I do in life. It gives me reason to do something, or you might say a justification. When I buy things I say that I might need it later, or if I am going to party the night away, I say the phrase you only live once. Even though I am typing this assignment now, a piece of me still believes in the you only live once justification. Sometimes I get torn between the two, but I think that I can overcome this by facing the facts of each situation. For instance, if I am going out to buy something or party, I will ask myself questions such as: Do I need this or do I want this? Will this fit in my budget and what will I benefit from this item? Could I be bettering myself in some way besides drinking? Sometimes I trick myself into doing these things. I say to myself I do it because I can. My rationalization can be overcome by will power and assessing each situation.

The anger that I possess does not happen often, but when it happens it definitely is a barrier to my thought processes. I believe that many will agree, but when I am angry I am judge and jury and nothing else matters. I become selfish, but also ambitious in a one sided tunnel vision kind of way. In this state of mine there is no listening or compromise. As stated in the chapters, when anger is present, reason is not and when reason is present, anger is not. I know from experience that this is true on so many levels. Eight times out of ten I can overcome my anger by empathizing with the other party or leaving the space where it occurred to cool down and reevaluate.

Lastly enculturation is the last of my barriers. This bar none will be the most difficult to overcome because I was born into it. It is safe to say that everything I am is based off of how and what I was raised into. Some facets of enculturation I can identify and find...