Learn to Think

Everyone thinks at all times which is a natural process. Thinking is a major programming in our brains. It makes us understand what is happening to us and around us and what should be our next action. It makes us work, love, hate, plan, enjoy, complain etc. Thinking in fact makes us learn. But we can think upto the normal capacity of our brain as well as according to the routine set up by us in normal course. Thus we know 2+2 is 4 or 4-2 is 2. But we are unable to think whether 2+2 can be 5 or 4-2 can be 3. We do not try to know whether it could be possible because we know it is not possible. Similarly various other facts we ignore because we believe that it is impossible. A poor man wonders to think of the earnings of affluent persons but never thinks of entering himself into their category because he cannot perceive himself to become a rich man. But you know that rich persons were not rich from the very beginning. At least a rich family at some stage must have been an ordinary and poor family and someone from that family thought of becoming rich and started taking action in that direction. Thus we need to develop a habit of thinking beyond what we believe. This is called lateral thinking. Thus if someone is asked to plant four trees in such a way that each tree is 20 feet from each other. But if you try to put it on a piece of paper, you will find that it is not possible since two of the four trees will always be farther apart than the rest. Thus it is not possible in two dimensions. The solution comes when we place one tree at the top of a steep hill( 3rd dimension). Lateral thinking makes us find solutions to mind boggling puzzles,and problems. In real life also, you might have observed that there are persons who are very sharp, who understand things quickly, their replies are correct and to the point. They are looked upon by others with great regard and admiration. They always dominate the rest. But the other ordinary persons can also become like these great personalities. Only thing is they have to start thinking laterally and include the terms why, how in their thinking process. Thus one has to stop believing in the following terms:
1. I cannot do this work as I have insufficient resources.
2. I cannot pass this exam
3. I cannot become rich quickly or in the medium or long term.
4. There is no treatment available for this ailment or disease.
5. I cannot develop a strong and shapely body.
6. There cannot be any life after death.
7. There is nothing like soul.
8. There is no truth in ancient beliefs that people could talk to each other through their minds or could travel to other places, even planets without any planes or rockets.

First start believing that everything is possible and nothing is impossible in this Universe. Then also start realizing that in this Universe there are inifinite number of amazing facts and mechanisms and phenomena which are still to be discovered by Man. Whatever we think as impossible can in fact be possible. It is not impossible to disappear from one place and appear at some other place. It is not impossible for an illiterate person to become a famous creative writer (Kalidasa, the Great poet is an example). It is not impossible to continue to have new ideas throughout our lifetime. A person can continue to write interesting and unique articles even after he has exhausted all his ideas, since new ideas always formulate on the basis of existing ideas. Actually ideas are also existing in this Universe and are infinite in number and cannot be exhausted by any civilization in billions of years. Ideas continue to float in the Universe, in the air around us and enter the receptive minds from time to time. Everyone gets ideas from time to time, but only few are able to give proper respect to them and try to transform them into reality. Those who do become famous and great personalities.

Perceive Yourself from Others Minds

In our normal routine, we meet different persons at different times and formulate opinions about them based on their appearance, behavior etc. Based on that we like some people, dislike others, hate some, love others, admire some, despise others and so on. We also complaint about other persons behavior sometimes. During a heated argument with someone, we might have become furious and uttered unwanted words and also received the same treatment. This is natural as substantiated by the Newton's third law which states that every action has equal and opposite reaction. So no problem till we get back equal treatment for our unwanted behaviour. But there are some other categories of persons who are most of the times at receiving end and are unable to respond to our behaviour. For example, our children, old parents, humble wives/husbands, household servants, office subordinates etc. We go to any extent of shouting at them in a fit of anger for a very little or no fault, caring a little what happens to them. I have seen some persons scolding their wives openly in the marketplace or beating their small children mercilessly. just because someone is dependent upon us, we should not try to dominate them like that or hurt their feelings and respect. Every person has some self respect, even young children. Ladies respect their parents but disregard their parents in law and husbands feel helpless. Also sometimes we might feel that a person unnecessarily gets angry with us during normal discussion. Sometimes normal discussions convert into scuffles and blows. Why it happens? A man with strong physique will have more impact on others while talking in angry mood than a person with normal physique. We should try to perceive our appearance to others in various moods and then evaluate the reaction of others towards us. We should also think from the point of view of others before deciding to blame them. Best thing is to apply to ourself what we advise others. If my son is not paying proper attention to his studies, I should try to find out what is the actual reason, what are the difficulties faced by him, whether physical or mental, whether he is being harassed by someone in his school/college, whether despite best efforts, he is unable to remember his lessons and gets scolded by teachers daily etc. This is the best way to be considerate to our near and dear ones and to others also. Consideration for others is the necessary approach one should adopt. Also encouraging others to discuss their problems is necessary. Children might be facing problems which they might be hesitating to discuss with parents, and instead be sharing with some unwanted friends or colleagues who instead of helping them, might get undue advantage themselves.