A Lesson In Critical Thinking

How could someone possibly think that?

How could they possibly feel that way?

These questions often frustrate us when we encounter opinions that clash with our own.

As trust in each other continues to erode, it becomes even more important to answer these questions calmly and rationally—not just for the person you’re criticizing, but for the sake of your own peace of mind.

Here’s a way of looking at it that might help:

Our objective reality—the world of physical objects we all agree exists—will always have a subjective layer on top of it: our own personal experience.

That layer influences how we interact with the world and how it affects us.

Take mechanical keyboards as an example.

Someone unfamiliar with the hobby might type on a keyboard and think nothing of it. But because I’ve built my own keyboards, I pay attention to how each keystroke feels. My mood might even shift depending on how satisfying the typing experience is. The casual user might subconsciously register the feeling, but I doubt it would affect them as much as it affects me—because my perception of the objective object (the keyboard) is shaped by my personal experience.

In that way, the same objective thing can affect different people in entirely different ways, depending on their unique life experiences.

This way of thinking helps cultivate empathy. When someone is distressed over something that doesn’t affect you, it’s easy to dismiss them as overreacting. But recognizing that everyone experiences reality through their own subjective lens allows you to ask: What about their perspective makes this so distressing for them?

It also helps reduce the frustration and confusion you might feel when someone holds an opinion you find absurd. Instead of reacting emotionally, you become more inclined to approach the situation with curiosity and understanding.

This kind of mindset shift is a mark of strong critical thinking.

Of course, some people’s subjective experiences lead them to develop worldviews so detached from objective reality that they can become harmful to others. And if you have the opportunity to guide them toward a more objective perspective, do so.

But sometimes, that won’t be possible—and learning to accept that is important, too.

Creating spaces where people can openly discuss differing opinions—allowing both sides to reach a more reasonable, objective understanding—is incredibly rare.

I wanted to build a community of people who share that mindset—who are willing to grow through adversity, keep an open mind, and and engage in meaningful discussions that help each other evolve.

That’s why I created my Self Mastery School.

Self Mastery School is a place for those who want to actualize their greatest potential, strengthen their self awareness, and connect with like-minded, down-to-earth humans.

When you join the school, you’ll get access to:

• Full length courses/eBooks (including my Ultimate Self Mastery Course)

• Weekly coaching calls and lectures (related to self-awareness, making money online, social skills, fitness, etc.)

• An exclusive community of ambitious, open-minded people

It’s a place for those who feel like they can’t talk to anyone about self-improvement in real life, and are trying to find their tribe.

The friendships in there feel genuine.

And I have a feeling you’re going to find your tribe in there, too.

Here's some wins from our community:

Hope to see you in there.

Book Chronicles #7

As promised, I’m here to give you updates on my upcoming novel, Fractured Worlds. (That name is not official yet.)

Probably the most interesting week (in terms of research) yet.

Now that we’re closing in on the protagonist meeting his mentor—the person who will give him an explanation of his mind-splitting condition—I’ve been diving into the realm of quantum physics.

This eventually led me to the Many Worlds Interpretation (MWI).

MWI of quantum mechanics suggests that every time a quantum event occurs with multiple possible outcomes, reality splits, creating parallel worlds where each possibility plays out.

So our protagonist will basically be seeing into a different timeline.

For people who just subscribed to the newsletter—the main premise of the novel is that the protagonist goes through a loss so tragic, that his mind “fractures”, giving him the ability to see into a parallel reality.

The idea for now is that he can only see one parallel universe throughout the entire book. Keeping it contained to a single alternate reality makes things more immersive (and avoids turning the book into a chaotic mess).

This will be the foundation of his ability. He still has zero control over it, but the whole self-improvement arc of the book will show how he cultivates the ability to switch realities on command.

Super cool stuff. See you next week.

Quote of The Week

Thanks for reading, everyone. Hope you enjoy your weekend.

-Cole