How do you think?

Take a second to look at this image. Do each of them represent something your mind?

Last night, I had dinner with a friend and we were discussing thoughts, language, and ways of thinking. Both of us immigrated to the U.S. from Asia when we were 8-9 years old, and I asked her whether or not she could pinpoint when she started “thinking” in English versus her native language. This is a concept that’s always fascinated me – how I used to think in “Chinese” and when exactly it switched to being in English.

While I’ve pondered this use of English-vs.-Chinese in my mode of thinking, I never quite considered that we don’t JUST think in words. We also think in colors, images, and experiences! Sometimes, I think I get so wrapped up in my thoughts — the stream of consciousness type of thinking, that I forget I don’t just use words to make sense of concepts to myself. It seems like it’d make the most sense, that I use words to make sense of things, because we use language and words as a tool for communication and for articulating ourselves to the world. But words can be so limiting – colors, intertwined with experiences and memories, alongside specific images are just as amazing ways of thinking and processing our thoughts.

From my own conscious thoughts, I know that I do think mainly in words: it’s like I hear my own “voice” in my head (not in the crazy way) when I’m articulating thoughts to myself inside my brain. But what I wonder is whether or not everyone else mainly thinks in words, or if there are others out there who actually think with images, memories, colors, and perhaps other forms of thinking that I’m just leaving out. Can we think with feelings? Or is that an oxymoron?

What I’m also curious to explore is how these forms of thinking can be applied to business solutions. Can we integrate these modes of thinking into the systems thinking and design thinking frameworks? (Or are certain modes already integrated?)

I’ll be attending a Design Thinking Workshop that the Center for Responsible Business, where I work, is offering in two weeks. So, more on that after I learn more about design thinking…

Photo credits: Ang Kor Wat by my sister, Keane concert by me, words photo

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2011: 02/10
CATEGORY: Thoughts
Work
TAGS: philosophy
Thoughts
2 comments

Anonymous

And again I am amazed at how similar the things that we care about are. I think a lot about thinking too! (And then i think about thinking about thinking…!)

What I have found is that your thinking processes if you observe them (while having also nurtured them), is a very integrated form of thinking. Think of it as the thought exists on the plane of the emotional state. If there is no plane then there is nothing, thus some sort of emotion (incl goals, ambitions) is the originator of thought. And the emotional state that you are on not only effects but also affects your thinking.

I wonder toor whether I/everyone thinks in words….i kind of dont want to say that i think in words though…..they are inherently incapable of carrying total meaning….

And I think that our thinking is integrated seamlessly into all forms of thinking. We switch between systems thinking and design thinking and other types seamlessly.

Roshan
(hope you remember me at least…)
http://pointlessly.org Roz

Hey Roshan! Yes of course I remember you! Thanks for your thoughts on this topic.

I feel like a lot of this is something that those in cognitive science/neurology (?)/psychology study as a science!
You’re right, though, words ARE inherently incapable of carrying total meaning. But it seems like it’s perhaps the..easiest way we think? Or we THINK that thinking in words is easy because we can put a name to it…
I don’t think we switch as easily between systems & design thinking, since I feel like some of this is done by training as well?

experiencing life through an always-nuanced worldview.

How do you think?

Ros

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