Out And About

Henry David Thoreau, an American poet and philosopher said, “Think for yourself, or others will think for you, without thinking of you.”

As I was out and about this week, this statement was truer than most, when citizens were discussing absentee voting and amendments that are on the general election ballot.

Forming one’s own opinions and beliefs should be a priority to actively living. Encouraging independent thought and critical thinking is essential to have our own your own needs met.

Don’t agree? Take as an example the simple inquiry, “What would you like for dinner?”

If an indifferent answer is replied, such as, “I don’t care,” you have given someone else the power over your own thinking. How can you debate the choice when you clearly gave away your right?

Societical norms can blindly lead people to believe in views that they passively accept and do not take ownership (responsibility) of thinking for themselves.

Life is full of choices that can become overwhelming; however, the amazing power of the brain and it’s estimated processing power can be compared to a super computer.

I have heard it said (and even repeated the words myself), “I don’t want to think about anything.”

The brain is constantly active, receiving and sending information.

New experiences are processed by adapting and changing with all of the information that flows in from the eyes, ears and any sensory organs.

Mental exhaustion can lead someone to follow a path of least resistance, finding the easy option that can lead to laziness.

With the information highway available at our fingertips and the capability to share opinions at the click of a button, it seems that some of the thinking can be done for us. Or is it?

Even with the information that is supplied, please allow your brain the courtesy to demonstrate how awesome it is, by forming your own ideas, conclusions, experiences and memories.

Like those words Thoreau said, “Others will think of you without thinking of you, leaving you no choice at all.

The Prospect-News