Titilayo Ajose

Name: Titilayo Ajose Content Area: Article Title: Right Thinking for Right Living RIGHT THINKING FOR RIGHT LIVING We all think every day. A few think about great things, while most of us have what could be called mundane thoughts much of the time which evolves from the actions which take place in our normal day’s activities. Rarely do these kinds of thought challenge our imagination. In any case, it is all the mysterious process called thought which we often take for granted. Thoughts can be abused by not using it in a constructive way or by using it in a wrong way. Nevertheless, as author Norman Cousins put it: “Thought is the basic energy in human history. Civilisation is put together not by machines but by thought. Similarly, man’s uniqueness is represented not by his ability to make objects but to sort and relate them. Other animals practice communication, only man has the capacity for comprehension”. The exciting thing about thought is that anyone can think; whether educated, of normal education or of limited education. We can all think; lack of hearing or sight is definitely no handicap. Although anyone can think, few of us comprehend such mysteries. Regardless, we all have the capacity to rise far above our mundane daily activities. Why don’t we? All too often we allow our thinking to be limited due to lack of training, motivation, purpose or time. To think constructively requires time. We must be willing to set aside other considerations and allow our minds to evaluate and weigh facts and circumstances. Then, based upon the information we have gathered in life we make comparisons and evaluations which lead to new conclusions and course of actions. We have each learned to think depending upon the material that has gone into our database. Unfortunately today, most youths are feeding their minds with the effluent flowing so freely from the TV, internet etc. despite the numerous educational programmes one can also benefit from such avenues. Studies have shown that by age six, the average child has watched 20,000 hours of television programming- roughly equivalent to schooling up to university level. Young minds have been exposed to few examples of what or how to think. Great thoughts come from dedication, the asking of questions and considering of answers. It does not happen in a passing moment but requires “Time” the precious ingredient needed for thought. In the ancient times of great philosophers such as Plato, Socrates, Confucius or Descartes their society crawled at a snail’s pace. To go from one place to another, one walked, rode a horse or perhaps sailed which gives the mind time to consider other things. There were no radios, TVs or internet facilities to distract. You were not wasting your time if you sat lost in thought while watching distant mountains or the sun setting at the seashore. There was always tomorrow. Information was laboriously uncovered a little at a time rather than appearing instantaneously on a computer screen, giving the mind enough time to process such information. Modern society mitigates against people thinking deeply. Many have forfeited their ability to think in favour of the accumulation of knowledge and information. They absorb facts and data in order to pursue success while some have even abandoned their ability to think in favour of being entertained or not having to bear the burden of questions to which they have no answer. They may not want to face an uncertain future and the consequences man seems to be bringing upon himself. They do not know where to find answers; therefore it is better not to think about them. In all these remember the saying that thought is basic energy in human history. To move ahead we need to think ahead, to live right, we have to think right. Humanity cannot afford to continue rushing blindly ahead thinking that issues will resolve themselves. Until quality time is invested in resourceful thinking, aided by gradual processing of acquired knowledge and information through the instrumentality of the mind, success may still be a faint ray of hope in a very dark horizon of ignorance.