5 ways to become an independent thinker

Being a master over your owns thoughts is refreshing. Thinkers use their own lens to filter information and make up their minds. Independent thinkers do not allow other people’s thinking to become their thinking. Strength doesn’t come in numbers. It comes with the ability to have and express your views.

Here are five ways to become an independent thinker

Reading

To be enlightened about people’s thoughts, you must read about them. To broaden your mind, you have to be a good listener. Book, stories and articles you might avoid are the ones you have to seek. To be a leader, challenge your own views by listening to others.

Identify other arguments

Be the devil’s advocate and challenge your views. Ask yourself, “What if the opposite was true, as well?” Leaders perfectly know other people’s perspectives can be right, too.

Interact with different people from you

Get connected and interact with people who don’t hold the same views as you. Connect with people of a different age, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation or socioeconomic level.

If you know of an individual with different opinions, ask them to breakfast. The meeting has to be brief and informal. Don’t rush out with issues or heat up your differences in your first conversation. First, know the person and you’ll find commonalities that you were unaware of and to which you can relate with. This will help enlighten you more on their views and be less attached to your original thinking.

Travel

Enhance your life experience and broaden your mind to diverse cultures and experiences. Connect with people from different parts of your country, as well as foreign countries and stay in locally owned hotels. Visit the local market, take public transport, travel like a native.

Focus and respect

To be liked, risk following what other people do or think. Respect and leadership do not come easily. The path leading to respect and leadership is not a day’s work nor smooth. Think outside the box. Following others will lead you nowhere because strength doesn’t come in numbers, strength comes in one’s ability to have and express one’s view.