Great minds (e.g. Aristotle, Madame Curie, Mozart, Catherine the Great, Einstein) don’t typically think in the same loops that most of us do. They think deeper down, higher up, farther out, further in. The one thing they don’t do is think alike.
More importantly, great minds think differently--THAN THEY PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT--that is, they are continuously observing, questioning, exploring and expanding. They don’t just let go of time-honored ways of thinking. They leave behind currently accepted norms and conventions. In other words, they push out their what-if’s. Then push some more.
We often think that such people have bigger, better, brawnier brains than ours. And it’s true--sometimes! But even the greatest minds must approach thought with the same curiosity, openness and humility as we do. Seldom do they change the world with a single magnificent break-through idea--and never ex nihilo. Rather, it’s the organic consequence of a lifelong practice of thinking differently.
How we think determines how we see the world--and more importantly, ourselves--in it. How we think is the basis upon which all religion, philosophy, science, technology, medicine and mathematics--indeed, nations and empires are built. It’s responsible for every discovery, every breakthrough, every advancement throughout history. It determines how we respond to anything and everything that happens to us--regardless of our age, circumstances or station in life. It determines not only how happy or sad, joyful or mad we are in any given moment. It also decides how small or great a contribution we make throughout our lifetime.
No, great minds don’t think alike. . . but small ones often do.
TODAY.
LET’S GIVE THE WORLD & OURSELVES A GIFT.
LET’S TAKE TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE THINK.
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