How to Live a Better Life by Thinking Differently

How to Live a Better Life by Thinking Differently

Thinking is the process of using your brain to solve problems, recognize patterns, or come up with new ideas. Thinking is such a broad term that it can mean almost anything. It's all about how you process information and what you do as a result of that processing. You use your thinking skills every day, but not everyone thinks in the same way or to the same degree. Some people naturally have better thinking skills than others, but anyone can improve their thinking processes with practice and intention. Thinking improves your problem-solving skills, allows you to see things from different perspectives, and makes it easier to come up with creative solutions when you need them most. Here are some ways you can start thinking differently today to live a better life:

Be observant

You cannot solve a problem if you don’t know that it exists. For this reason, people who are skilled at observation are able to recognize and address problems before they become significant. Being observant is an important part of critical thinking, which is a skill that every person can benefit from improving. You can improve your powers of observation by actively looking for things. Instead of waiting for something to “pop out” at you, actively search for it. You might choose to do this with your daily commute, or while out shopping.

Process the information you receive

It’s important to be able to prioritize and process the information you receive in a given day. This includes everything from your morning newsfeed, to your work emails, to the words of your children. A handy way to practice this is to make a list of everything that’s on your plate for the day. This can include both professional and personal items. Once you have this list, draw a line under each item. This is an easy way to visually mark that you have completed something. It also gives you a good visual of what’s left to do for the day. Another good practice is to write down your thoughts as soon as you have them. This can be a quick note in your phone, or a full-fledged journal entry. Both of these options give you space to process your thoughts, and provide you with a record of your thoughts if you want to look back on them at a later date.

Be flexible and open to change

Being flexible is important when it comes to problem-solving, because it allows you to adapt to new information or unexpected outcomes. For example, imagine you are baking a cake and the recipe calls for baking powder, but you accidentally use baking soda instead. In this scenario, you will get a cake, but it will not taste as you expected. Being flexible allows you to see this mistake for what it is. It allows you to adjust your expectations for the cake, and possibly change the recipe to suit your tastes better. Being flexible allows you to navigate life’s unexpected challenges more easily. It allows you to respond to change with ease, rather than seeing it as a threat. This is especially useful in situations with other people, as flexibility allows you to consider the situation from another person’s perspective. It makes it easier to understand their position, and find a solution that works for everyone.

Try something new

New experiences are a great way to practice thinking in new ways. You can try something as simple as a new route to work, or as adventurous as a new language. New experiences help you see your world with fresh eyes, and they can also help you become more adaptable. If you’re trying to learn a new skill, you may find that you hit a mental block. A useful trick for thinking your way through a challenge is to pretend that you are explaining the problem to someone who knows nothing about it. This can help you break the problem down into smaller pieces, and it can help you think about it from a new perspective.

Ask yourself important questions

Asking yourself important questions can help you to see things in a new light, and can help you to problem-solve. There are many different types of questions you can ask yourself. Some examples include:

• What do I want out of life?
• What are my values?
•  How are my current habits and routines impacting my life?
• How can I improve my health?
• How can I improve my relationships?
• What are my strengths?
• What are my weaknesses?

Keep a journal and write down your answers to these (and other) questions. You can also look back on your journal entries from previous weeks and months to discover both the changes you have made, and things that have remained constant. - You can also ask others important questions to help you improve your life.


Thinking is an important part of life. It enables you to solve problems, recognize patterns, and come up with new ideas. Thinking is such a broad term that it can mean almost anything. It’s all about how you process information and what you do as a result of that processing. You use your thinking skills every day, but not everyone thinks in the same way or to the same degree. Some people naturally have better thinking skills than others, but anyone can improve their thinking processes with practice and intention. Now that you know how important thinking is, and how you can improve your thinking skills, it’s time to put those skills to use and start thinking differently!