The Importance Of Straight Thinking

In a world that is ever expanding and ever shifting, how can we expect the young minds of college students to learn how to excel and be productive in a society that just won’t stand still? The key to advancement in an ever changing world can be found in the ability to think straight. Our success and growth here in this mortal world is undeniably dependent on our ability to think clearly and proficiently. Through clarity of thought, we can unlock the ability to take correct action as we make vital decisions throughout the course of our lives. The entirety of an individual’s future is dependent on their ability to think straight. A mind made up of jumbled up thoughts and ideas is comparable to driving at night on a road without any light to guide

We cannot expect to think clearly and make correct decisions without a proper groundwork set in place. To obtain meaningful knowledge, we must first emulate humility and rid ourselves of pride; “in meekness we are teachable, prepared for spiritual tutorials. In pride, however, we can’t even discern our need for growth because we think we already know everything” (Learning Our Theology). Pride is our worst enemy in the pursuit to obtain meaningful knowledge. We must be willing to accept that we do not know everything and that there is always room for growth. As college students, it can be incredibly frustrating when we feel as though we cannot grasp new concepts and ideas right off the bat. We live in a world of instant gratification, which in turn can play a part in our want and desire to receive instantaneous knowledge. Meekness will arm us with both the ability to be patient and submissive throughout the process of learning. Through meekness and humility, our mental growth will be heightened and we will be able to think clearer. However, meekness and humility, although vital, cannot stand alone. We need to be consistent throughout the process of learning, growing, and thinking

Thinking is work. . . . Sloppy and inconclusive thinking becomes a habit. The more one does it the more one is unfitted to think a problem through to a proper conclusion” (After I Was Sixty, London: Hamish Hamilton, 1975, p. 106 Thinking Straight). We are what we eat, likewise, decisions are formed from the substance of our thoughts. There is an irrefutable need to be diligent and self-disciplined as we think and learn; “feasting, seeking, searching, studying, giving heed, becoming are all verbs suggesting much more than casual acquaintance with what we study. Rather, these verbs suggest that learning is hard work” (Learning Our Theology). As a generation of young minds, let us not be fooled that “easy” will reap the results that we are looking for and aid us in an ever-changing world filled with endless obstacles. The progress we make will be matched by our efforts, the harder we work the greater the results. If we want to learn how to think straight, we need to be active in both thought and deed. It is imperative that we pursue knowledge that will feed us the vital nutrients needed to grow and rid our minds of junk