From The Daily Dialogue
From The Daily Dialogue
Broadcast of 2/28/98
Subject: [DailyDialogue #59] Thinking
"Level five, which I call formal-reflexive, is the first structure that can not only think but think about thinking. It is thus highly introspective, and it is capable of hypothetical reasoning, or testing propositions against evidence. What Piaget called formal operational thinking. It typically emerges in adolescence, and is reponsible for the burgeoning self-consciousness and wild idealism of that period." - Ken Wilber, Grace and Grit
Sometimes I find myself falling into a way of thinking that undermines our dialogue. In this style of thinking, I want to reach clarity and resolution quickly. Rather than suspend my judgements and conclusions while teasing apart strands of complexity, I use my pattern recognition and quickly reach conclusions based on my beliefs and experience. To the extent that I then stop participating in the dialogue, (perhaps shutting down my listening, making pronouncements, or giving advice) our dialogue is thwarted.
A formal dialogue process is a structure that includes, sending, receiving, mirroring and acknowledgement of feelings and thoughts. This process encourages a more advanced style of thinking. In this style of thinking, I am encouraged to suspend my desire for a quick resolution and easy answers. I am asked to listen intently and attempt to apprehend all that you are saying. When I don't understand, I'm encouraged to probe further. I attempt to make meaning of all the rich content behind words, constructs, and metaphors that you use while suspending my judgements and conclusions about them.
Experiment: Dialogue about the characteristics of the thinking patterns that are encouraged when you do partner's dialogue.
Affirmation: We are performing a higher level of thinking as we engage in dialogue. The Daily Dialogue is published each day of 1998 by e-mail. Copyright 1998, Eddy Brame and Marty Crouch, All rights reserved. To share this with a friend, encourage them to subscribe by visiting our website at http://dailydialogue.com/. You may also unsubscribe at the website.
