Becoming an Independent Thinker
Do you follow the herd?
Or do you think for yourself?
In modern times, it’s easy to think like everyone else.
That’s why herds move in quantities.
The independent thinker is different.
They are one of the bravest groups in the era where numbers are rewarded.
What does it mean to be an independent thinker?
And can being an independent thinker provide an ROI?
These are a few questions that any storyteller needs to ponder.
Because by becoming an independent thinker, you will amplify your creativity.
The creative insights that you produce will not be found behind the masses.
It will only be found in your internal world
Who is the Independent Thinker?
An independent thinker is someone who predominantly thinks, learns & teaches for themselves.
They may take information from others or the group.
But in order to be independent, you need to have the final say.
There is a caveat to the word “independent” though.
Why?
Because in order to learn ANYTHING, you need to be dependent to a certain degree.
For example:
When I went to learn math from my teacher in middle school, I had to assume she knew what she was talking about.
Once I made the decision that she knew what she was talking about, I made my mind dependent on her to absorb the information.
Dependency was involved for a certain period.
But after the information was accumulated and understanding was achieved, the independent thinker within us needs to take over.
Meaning that future decisions can be made with the thinking faculties of one’s own.
So let’s just reiterate.
Even to be an independent thinker, you need to place dependencies every now and then.
But ultimately, it is you that needs to have the final say.
One More Caveat of the Independent Thinker
With this simple understanding, everyone should be independent, no?
No.
No one WANTS to be a group thinker. A person who follows the herd.
So why do they do so?
Because it is the safe path or the default path.
You remember when we used to be in school & would form groups for team projects?
There would be a few kids working their ass off.
While there were a few people who weren’t doing any work?
Some of the people who weren’t doing any work may have been lazy.
But a good deal of them just did not UNDERSTAND the material.
In the real world, when you do not understand how to make decisions, think critically & show emotional resilience, you just naturally plug into the herd.
Being an independent thinker requires conscious effort.
The effort of self-education, making mistakes, operating with a vision & much more.
So don’t think you can just become independent because you want to.
Everyone WANTS to.
The question is, will you put in the reps?
What Are the 2 Requirements to Think for Yourself?
I can list out a whole bunch of variables to become an independent thinker.
But 2 stick out the most.
Thick skin & a vision.
Working on a vision will lead to thick skin.
And thick skin will clarify the vision.
A vision allows you to progress forward.
With this vision, information takes up a new life.
You are no longer just seeing words.
You now see missing blocks to build your empire.
This ability to see information from a new lens allows you to immediately adopt a new mode of thinking.
The average herd thinker cannot think like you, because they do not have the identical vision as you.
The more that you work on this vision, the more that you will fail.
Pushing forward despite failures, allows you to build a thick skin.
Thick skin allows you to enhance emotional regulation skills.
Emotional regulation skills allow your mind to sit on top of a FIRM architecture.
With an unruffled mind, you are able to concentrate better.
And with enhanced concentration, you are able to have a razor-sharp intellect.
This razor-sharp intellect is EARNED.
‘What exactly does this intellect do Armani?’
It allows you to make True/False analysis.
We all have different philosophies for life.
But when you have a vision, you are able to make your True/False analysis from the context of YOUR vision.
And the sharper this intellect gets, the more of an independent thinker that you become.
Is it Too Late to Think for Yourself?
Nah, it’s never too late.
If you are still reading this, then you have a natural desire to learn to think for yourself.
The sad truth is that most group thinkers have no clue that they are group thinkers.
They are unaware of the situation.
And due to their lack of awareness, they are the FIRST to get brainwashed with new mainstream narratives.
Something may have been feeling wrong to you for some time.
Good.
That level of displeasure is what allows you to begin the journey to think for yourself.
It’s a journey riddled with failures and setbacks.
But eventually, you’ll have a clarified vision & thick skin to show for it.
A vision & thick skin is the world rewarding you for hard work.
And that’s something money can’t buy.
Ditch Herd Mentality & Pave your Path
It’s time to ditch the herd mentality.
Life is too short.
Thinking in groups works for a while.
Until one day, you see your group saying something that you VEHEMENTLY disagree with.
What then?
Do you question your life…
Or sacrifice your principles?
None of the above if you choose the life of an independent thinker.
Aim to create some sort of vision for yourself.
Embrace failures.
Thicken the skin.
This will lead to a sharp intellect that can never be bought.
Only earned.
But once you have that, you will see life in a new way.
Your mind is full of potential energy that can always be leveraged.
Just like the body, the mind is a muscle.
Work out the muscles & the life of an independent thinker is in your future.
Keep grinding.
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– ArmaniTalks 
