Do You Have a River of Thinking Problem?
Your rivers of thinking either carry you toward your goals or away from them. The question is: Are you steering the boat, or just floating downstream?
The human mind is an incredible and strange thing. It is brilliant, creative, logical, illogical, can feel, and can figure things out.
And … it can lead us far astray.
This is true for every single human being.
Here's What Happens
Over time, we develop patterns of thinking and doing. These patterns are critically important because they help us do routine things without much or any thought. Imagine having to learn over and over again each time you did it how to brush your teeth, tie your shoes, use a fork, drive a car, and so on.
The problem is that sometimes we develop patterns that are extremely unhelpful, often referred to as "rivers of thinking" (a term coined by Duncan Wordel, who discusses it in his new book, Imagination Emporium).
These rivers of thinking, or patterns of thinking, cause us to look at things and react to things in the same way. Doing it the same way feels like the safe way.
The problem is that at times, the way we have always done things, the comfortable way of doing things, is actually not the best way.
It can cause us to not see things we should see or not hear things we should hear. It can keep us from doing our very best work.
Break the Pattern: Your Escape Plan
Here is how you can break the pattern:
Start with awareness. Ask yourself, "What assumptions am I making right now?" Challenge your first instinct. If you always approach problems one way, force yourself to consider three alternatives before moving forward.
Seek fresh perspectives. Find someone who thinks differently from you. Not someone who agrees with you — someone who sees the world through a completely different lens. Their "wrong" perspective might reveal your blind spots. Some time with them, ask them for advice.
Practice the opposite. If you're naturally cautious, try being bold for one decision this week. If you're typically aggressive, experiment with patience. These small experiments crack open new neural pathways.
Question your "always" and "never" rules. We all have them: "I always check email first thing," or "I never delegate important tasks." These absolutes are usually rivers of thinking in disguise.
Create disruption rituals. Change your physical environment when making important decisions. Work from a different location. Stand instead of sitting. Take a walk before responding to challenging situations.
The goal isn't to eliminate all patterns — that's impossible and undesirable. The goal is to recognize when your patterns serve you and when they limit you.
Your rivers of thinking either carry you toward your goals or away from them. The question is: Are you steering the boat, or just floating downstream?