4 Signs That You’re A High Level Thinker
Thinking at a high level is a unique experience.
It happens when disparate concepts come together to produce unexpected insights, much to how colors combine to form new tones. These insights, which come from the thoughts of wise people, have the ability to change the entire world.
This advanced way of thinking isn’t, however, a given or an entitlement. It’s a luxury only granted to those who have dedicated themselves to broadening their views intellectually.
Here Are The 4 Signs That You’re A High Level Thinker
1. You Are Building A Unique Set Of Experience
Your subconscious mind controls the majority of your daily activities. Every contact and lesson you learn becomes entangled in a web of innumerable ideas and concepts. Your conscious mind determines how to respond to suggestions that your subconscious nudges to it while you look for inspiration.
Consider your subconscious for a moment. What happens if it looks a lot like everyone else’s around you? The ideas you come up with will probably be similar to those of the majority and are frequently rather common.
Simplistic ideas cannot tackle the urgent problems the world is currently experiencing. They call for the creative problem-solving of so-called high-level thinkers. However, what distinguishes these people from the general public?
The response is simple. They have a variety of singular experiences that mold a certain subconscious, allowing them to come up with extraordinary answers that most others miss.
High-level thinkers are known for their propensity to pave their own route.
This could show itself as picking lesser-known travel areas to visit or reading obscure novels instead of best-selling ones. It could also take the bravery to see foreign films instead of Hollywood blockbusters.
To put it simply, great achievers actively seek out situations that others avoid. Do you belong to that group of people?
2. You Play Close Attention To New Ideas That The Majority Rejects
People frequently reject novel concepts for a variety of reasons, such as extreme skepticism or uneasiness with change. Here are a couple such examples:
- There was a general lack of faith in the internet revolution. The fact that so few forward-thinking people, such as Jeff Bezos, saw its potential allowed Amazon to grow into a massive international corporation.
- In “The Big Short,” the most renowned Wall Street bankers and investors were unable to predict that the housing boom would soon implode. Few, like Dr. Michael Burry, were able to see the impending danger.
- Many laughed at the idea of cryptocurrencies when they initially surfaced, but they have since grown at an incredible rate, surpassing almost every market in history.
High achievers may see the potential in novel ideas, even though most people prefer to dismiss them. This difference results from their development of a well-rounded strategy that blends skepticism and openness.
These thinkers are open to new concepts and carefully consider their viability before passing judgment. On the other hand, typical thinkers frequently let prejudices impair their judgment, which keeps them from looking for the real truth.
Furthermore, critical thinkers temper their openness with a good measure of skepticism. This delicate balance is necessary since excessive ignorance might result in squandering time and money on every fad, obscureing the truly innovative ideas.
In the end, a high-level thinker’s capacity to accept novel ideas while retaining an analytical perspective is what makes them stand out.
3. You’ve Postjudices, Not Prejudices
Let us dissect these two terms:
- Prejudice: Having a strong opinion without looking into the relevant information.
- Postjudice: Forming a firm opinion following a careful review of the available data.
Let’s now examine the main distinctions between high-level and average thinkers:
- Scope of Opinions: Typical thinkers typically hold an opinion about anything. Since nobody can be an expert on everything, most of these viewpoints are just prejudices, with very few, if any, being well-informed postjudices. On the other hand, high-level thinkers don’t feel compelled to have an opinion on every topic. When they finally decide on a position, they make sure it is founded in postjudice rather than prejudice by carefully weighing the available information.
- Formation of Opinions: Average thinkers frequently make snap judgments and don’t even pause to consider all the facts before voicing an opinion. High-level thinkers, on the other hand, take their time and say things like, “I need to do some research and reflect before sharing my thoughts because I’m not well-versed in this area.” Ordinary thinking are not likely to respond with such poise.
- Openness to Change: Ordinary people have a hard time letting go of their beliefs, especially in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. But high-level thinkers are aware that their preliminary work can be lacking. When the other side makes strong arguments, they are prepared to reconsider their positions, demonstrating a confidence that lets them change their minds without hurting their feelings.
Why are these glaring disparities in thought processes? The confidence level of an individual may hold the key to the solution.
Those who are mediocre thinkers frequently feel forced to voice their thoughts about everything since it is awkward to acknowledge their ignorance. They have a propensity to jump to judgments because they are afraid of having to admit when they are wrong. They are unwilling to admit that they might be mistaken and adhere tenaciously to their opinions.
High-level thinkers, on the other hand, have the self-assurance to welcome the discomfort that accompanies intellectual humility. You are a highly perceptive thinker if you can maintain an open mind and look for the facts before drawing conclusions.
4. You’re Inquisitive
Unwavering curiosity is a hallmark of high-level thinkers, who value learning more than the need to brag about their expertise. “If your mouth is moving, you’re not learning,” goes a popular proverb.
People who dominate talks typically don’t have much to say. They rarely ask questions to get clarification; instead, they would rather recite canned responses that give them the impression of being informed. True seekers of wisdom, on the other hand, have a deep curiosity. But it’s crucial to understand that, despite its seeming simplicity, asking questions may be really difficult.
Curiosity is hampered by two major obstacles:
- First, admitting that you are not an expert compels you to embrace the act of questioning. Many people who have fragile egos may find this acknowledgment painful and cling to the illusion of competence as a result.
- Secondly, asking a question feels like announcing one’s ignorance, even to those who acknowledge it to themselves. Although some people can live with the uncertainty, why not pose the topic publicly? That’s a hard pill to take!
This is why many people find even seemingly straightforward questions intimidating since they put their sense of security at jeopardy. But critical thinkers know that continuing education necessitates asking questions. Intellectual humility is an essential part of their way of thinking. You are definitely a high-level thinker if you aren’t scared to ask questions in order to recognize your limitations.
Thinking in this way is essential because it produces the amazing ideas that our world sorely needs. Here are four strategies for developing higher order thinking:
1. Foster a variety of experiences.
2. Maintain an open mind while tempering it with a fair dose of skepticism, and be open to concepts that others reject.
3. Replace preconceptions with postjudices. Prior to making judgments, consider the available information, and keep in mind that you don’t have to take a stand on every topic.
4. Accept the influence of inquiries.
You will not only deepen your own understanding by incorporating these techniques into your life, but you will also meaningfully participate to the larger discourse.
