Verbal Fluency

Children growing up in any modern culture have an opportunity to learn to become conceptually fluent by becoming verbally fluent.  It’s that simple.  Although many people have the impression that the ability to spin ideas into meaningful webs of persuasion must be an in-born skill, probably determined by IQ, the simple fact is that conceptual fluency is largely a matter of verbal fluency.  A person who has a limited vocabulary has a limited ability to speak — and think — conceptually.  Conversely, a person who has a large and diversified vocabulary, and who’s willing to use it appropriately in various conversational situations, has a high level of conceptual skill.
—  Karl Albrecht
From his book: “Practical Intelligence“
[Click on book title to see my review of the book.  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2014	Familiar
2013	Unbending
2012	Simple Sayings
2011	Wupped Again?
2010	3 and 1…
	Musical Notes…
	Doubt Tries…
	Northwest Passages – Evening Two
	The Beierly’s Web Site

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Bodily Functions

 

Last night I finished reading “Practical Intelligence“, by Karl Albrecht (2007©).  I wasn’t real sure what it was going to be about even though the sub-title is: “The Art and Science of Common Sense”.  I kind of thought it was going to be about learning how to think with more common sense – whatever that is.  (Another one of my serendipity purchases…)
In the end, the book is really in three parts.  Part one is about the biology of the brain, nerves and what modern science has to say about how we think.  The main thrust of this part is that thinking is a bodily function – how and what you think becomes a part of you.
Part two is about four key mental habits which the author proposes will make you a “better” person.  Better in the sense that you’ll feel happier with yourself.  The four habits are: Mental Flexibility, Affirmative Thinking, Sane Use of Language, and Valuing Ideas.
Part Three is about the four mega-skills you need to analyze problems and make sound decisions: Bivergent Thinking (divergent and convergent); Helicopter Thinking (being able to see from above and then drop straight down on top of an issue); Intulogical Thinking (using intuition and logic to solve problems); and, Viscerational Thinking (using your “gut” and reasoning) to make decisions.
In summary, the book is trying to convince you to make your life better by thinking more positively and then using positive (affirming) language.  Thinking is a bodily function and speaking is a way of reinforcing your positive thoughts with positive actions.
The book offers tremendous insight into the processes of thinking, making decisions and interacting with others to get things done.  I strongly recommend it.
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Flip-flopping…

Don’t confuse changing your mind with not making good decisions  —  they’re not the same thing.  What may have been an effective and appropriate decision or viewpoint at some point in time may no longer be effective and appropriate if the evidence changes or if you discover a better conclusion based on the original evidence.  If you can’t seem to come to confident conclusions about anything, then you probably need to work on your decision-making skills.  But if you can’t “unmake” a decision when better evidence or a better rationale is available, you’re confusing rigidity with competence.
—    Karl Albrecht
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Actually, It’s All About Me…

Why should we be altruistic when others are behaving selfishly?
The answer is profoundly simple: it’s not about the others — it’s about us.
—   Karl Albrecht
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Events

 

A thought — any thought — is a whole body event.
—    Karl Albrecht
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Bodily Functions

 

Thinking is a bodily function.
—   Karl Albrecht
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