THE THINKERS WAY --- 8 STEPS TO A RICHER LIFE
by John Chaffee. Little, Brown and Company, 1998
    TRANSFORM YOURSELF THROUGH THINKING (p3-27)

      STEP 1) THINK CRITICALLY (p28-72)

      STEP 2) LIVE CREATIVELY (p73-109)

        Create Mind Maps: Mind Maps are a versatile tool that can be used to generate ideas and represent the various relationships between them as a "visual adjunct" to brainstorming: (p92-93)

          [1] You begin your Mind Map by writing your main subject in the center of a page, and then recording all of the ideas that you can relate to this subject by using connecting lines.

          [2] Let your mind run freely, following its normal activity of making associations. You should work as quickly as possible, and don't worry about the order or structure.

          [3] Let the organization grow naturally, reflecting the way your mind naturally makes associations and organizes information.

          [4] Once completed, the organization can be easily revised on the basis of new information and your evolving understanding.

      STEP 3) CHOOSE FREELY (p110-155)

      STEP 4) SOLVE PROBLEMS EFFECTIVELY (p156-200)

      STEP 5) COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY (p201-251)

      STEP 6) ANALYZE COMPLEX ISSUES (p252-305)

      STEP 7) DEVELOP ENLIGHTENED VALUES (p306-348)

        Promoting human happiness and its corollary, diminishing human suffering, have been goals of most ethical systems throughout the ages. Most people are perfectly willing to pursue their own happiness. That is the way we are genetically programmed and taught as well.

        However, you do not receive social recognition for pursuing solely your own interests. Social recognition is typically earned by devoting your time and resources to enhancing the happiness of others, sometimes at the expense of your own interests.

        This moral principle is founded on the principle of "perspective-taking," which involves the awareness that for most important ethical issues and problems in our lives, one-viewpoint is simply not adequate to give a full and satisfactory understanding of them. (p333)

        To increase and deepen your knowledge, you must seek other perspectives on the situations you are trying to understand. You can sometimes accomplish this by using your imagination to visualize other viewpoints. To benefit most from this "alternative visualization," you must understand the reasons that support the alternate viewpoints. (p335)

        Identifying with another person's situation can generate the desire to assist the person that could just as easily have been you. This moral concept is the wellspring of charitable acts toward others.

        It is relevant in our ordinary dealings with others since it makes sense to promote the happiness of others through our words and actions. Being friendly, generous, supportive, understanding, sympathetic, and helpful to others enhances the lives of others, usually at a minimal cost to yourself. (p334)

        We need to expand the concept of "pleasure" to the more general idea of "human happiness" in a deep and rich sense. It does make sense for us to promote human happiness --- if this means helping other people secure shelter, food, and health care, education, and employment opportunities, political rights to freedom, and supporting their quest for personal fulfillment.

        When you view human happiness within this larger framework, you will be helping the greatest number of people achieve it. This is surely a morally good and ethically right goal to pursue. (p334)

      STEP 8) THINK THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS (p349-396)

    CREATE A LIFE PHILOSOPHY (p397-409)

    INDEX (p411-420)

      [1] Beliefs (p30-34, 44-68, 113-118, 215-216, 404-405)

      [2] Communicating effectively (p201-251)

      [3] Creativity (p23, 24, 25-26, 37, 73-109)

      [4] Freedom of choice (p23, 24-25, 26, 110-155)

      [5] Philosophy of life (p397-409)

      [6] Problem-solving (p156-200)

      [7] Relationships (p349-396)

      [8] Stages of knowing (p38-44, 48)

      [9] Thinking activities --- 8 steps in using thinking abilities (p22-23)

        (1) Analyzing complex issues

        (2) Choosing freely

        (3) Communication

        4) Creativity

        5) Critical thinking

        6) Developing enlightened values

        7) Importance of doing

        8) Problem solving

        9) Relationships

      [10] Thinking critically (p28-72)

      [11] Values --- developing enlightened values (p306-348)

Return to Essay-Set #5: Your Smart Self-Mindmap Note-Taking Skills
Return to: Thoughts Category Abstracts