This is the time of year when many people make lists: of resolutions, of things they want to accomplish, of things that they want to change about themselves, and of things that they want to stop doing, the things they want to eliminate from their lives. This year I’m making only one resolution: In the coming year, I want to think more.
I want to think more and more deeply about my work. I want to think more before I speak, before I write and publish, and before I act. I want to think more before I buy things. And I want to think more before I argue with others.
I do not have all of the answers. I do not know everything. I am not the king of the forest. But I have a powerful intellect at my disposal, if I choose to use it.
I’m very serious about this. I believe it will be difficult and I’m not guaranteed to succeed. But I believe that this will be the most worthwhile thing I can do.
I want to think, listen, and be present.
That’s my resolution for the coming year.
What’s yours?
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Dear Randy,
I think you speak for me as well. I would go even farther to say that I would like to rethink how I think about things-to relearn thinking so as to understand better what are its ends and means-to engage in a little metacognition to be aware of what I choose to think about and why and whether what I’m really doing is thinking or simply stirring the pot. (I’m not certain there is always a difference, on the other hand, if I don’t examine it, I won’t know.)
But I think this is a wonderful goal. Compassion and empathy and their increase cannot be a bad thing for the world overall nor for any individual.
shalom,
Steven
I love the simplicity of this goal and all it encompasses. We would all do well to consider this as a goal. The quietness in contemplation and deliberateness of speech are things which have become so far removed from our consciousness in this age of instant constant communication and (re)action.
Thanks for this, Randy. You caught me exactly where I stand today!
Thanks, Jo. And thanks for the link love on your site!
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