Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to make decisions or to think about an issue in an objectively. Unfortunately, sometimes barriers often cloud the way people think, and negatively influence and impact the decisions they make. Barriers do not have to be road blocks or impact people negatively. Recognizing personal barriers, and more importantly, understanding how they influence the way we think and the decisions we make, is the first step in becoming a more effective critical thinker.

Self-concept, the way we view ourselves, is one of my personal barriers. My self-concept is rather unhealthy as I choose to approach situations negatively.  I am my own worst enemy, as I talk myself out of taking risks because I feel I will not succeed. When I was younger, as an adolescent, I thought I had a more positive self-concept, but as I look back and reflect, me self-concept really was not all that strong. My ego drove my self-concept, as I was quite successful in the sports. However, when I was no longer participating in sports during my first attempt at college, because I was now a little fish in a big pond on the baseball field, my sense of self was gone. Honestly, I realize now that I wrapped my entire identity in one thing, and when that was gone, I no longer had a strong self-concept. Now that I am older, because I don’t have a strong self-concept, I often respond emotionally. Responding emotionally has not helped me, but rather impacted my life in a negative way, and because of that, my self-concept continues to be weak and poor. It is a vicious cycle, and I am at the root of the problem as I have difficulties in letting go and moving forward. Rather than facing obstacles or even trying, I engage in relationships, jobs or even activities that are distractions of the path I should be on.

 To change my self-concept, is to change the way I perceive myself. I need to first begin with a blank canvas, and paint a more positive picture of myself. I think it is important...