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Every day, a sea of decisions stretches before us.
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Some are small and unimportant, but others have a larger impact on our lives.
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For example, which politician should I vote for?
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Should I try the latest diet craze?
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Or will email make me a millionaire?
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We're bombarded with so many decisions that it's impossible to make a perfect choice every time.
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But there are many ways to improve our chances, and one particularly effective technique is critical thinking.
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This is a way of approaching a question that allows us to carefully deconstruct a situation,
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reveal its hidden issues, such as bias and manipulation, and make the best decision.
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If the critical part sounds negative that's because in a way it is.
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Rather than choosing an answer because it feels right,
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a person who uses critical thinking subjects all available options to scrutiny and skepticism.
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Using the tools at their disposal, they'll eliminate everything but the most useful and reliable information.
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There are many different ways of approaching critical thinking.
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But here's one five-step process that may help you solve any number of problems.
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One: formulate your question.
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In other words, know what you're looking for.
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This isn't always as straightforward as it sounds.
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For example, if you're deciding whether to try out the newest diet craze,
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your reasons for doing so may be obscured by other factors like claims that you'll see results in just two weeks.
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But if you approach the situation with a clear view of what you're actually trying to accomplish by dieting,
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whether that's weight loss, better nutrition, or having more energy,
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that'll equip you to sift through this information critically, find what you're looking for,
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and decide whether the new fad really suits your needs.
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Two: gather your information.
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There's lots of it out there, so having a clear idea of your question will help you determine what's relevant.
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If you're trying to decide on a diet to improve your nutrition, you may ask an expert for their advice, or seek other people's testimonies.
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Information gathering helps you weigh different options, moving you closer to a decision that meets your goal.
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Three: apply the information.
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Something you do by asking critical questions.
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Facing a decision, ask yourself, "What concepts are at work?"
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"What assumptions exist?"
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"Is my interpretation of the information logically sound?"
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For example, in an email that promises you millions,
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you should consider, "What is shaping my approach to this situation?"
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"Do I assume the sender is telling the truth?"
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"Based on the evidence, is it logical to assume I'll win any money?"
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Four: consider the implications.
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Imagine it's election time, and you've selected a political candidate based on their promise to make it cheaper for drivers to fill up on gas.
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At first glance, that seems great.
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But what about the long-term environmental effects?
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If gasoline use is less restricted by cost, this could also cause a huge surge in air pollution, an unintended consequence that's important to think about.
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Five: explore other points of view.
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Ask yourself why so many people are drawn to the policies of the opposing political candidate.
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Even if you disagree with everything that candidate says,
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exploring the full spectrum of viewpoints might explain why some policies that don't seem valid to you appeal to others.
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This will allow you to explore alternatives, evaluate your own choices, and ultimately help you make more informed decisions.
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This five-step process is just one tool, and it certainly won't eradicate difficult decisions from our lives.
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But it can help us increase the number of positive choices we make.
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Critical thinking can give us the tools to sift through a sea of information and find what we're looking for.
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And if enough of us use it, it has the power to make the world a more reasonable place.