On the Fence: Breaking the Illusion of the "Critical Thinker"

By Lori Lines

Critical thinking is glorified from early childhood. Children are encouraged to make sense of given circumstances, based on verifiable information. 
Children are rarely asked why they feel something happens. Instead, they are asked why they think it happens, or why they think something comes to be. The children who live up to these expectations can go on to become skilled critical thinkers and logicians.

Being able to deduce and induce logically can solve a lot of problems. Most people  engage in a logical deduction at some point in their day. However, when the critical thinker favors logic to the point that they neglect intuition, very valuable forms of knowledge and true understanding are lost. The risk the overly critical thinker is presented with is to grow dull to their truth, personal experience, and instinct.

In the last few decades, there has been a new appreciation for the sacred wisdom from within. Children are being taught meditation in school and at home. They are learning to still the monkey mind and hear the whisper of their inner wisdom more clearly. It is important for children to become familiar with such practices young because what the overly critical thinker is often missing is confidence. As such, the critical thinker relies on facts. A fact is just a succinct term for a notion that is widely accepted as true. This is evident in this day and age when we find facts are not always facts due to the rampant disinformation that's churned out by most of the larger media outlets.

In a world where the collective consciousness is stirring from its slumber, facts are not as trustworthy as they once appeared to be. There is a communal spiritual awakening to the wisdom of the universe, spiritual truths, and multi-dimensionality. Finally, the shifting of realities can be perceived. Facts are becoming outdated as the potential biases of “reality” are revealed.

In a world where everything changes and old “truths” can hinder and hurt, what can be trusted? The sacred wisdom of the universe, spiritual truths, and personal truths. An individual's experience is what matters, not what others can confirm they have also experienced and is therefore deemed fact. The unresolved critical thinker must get off the fence now or risk being lost in an ocean of old truths, confusion, and antiquated "facts."

Yet, the exclusively critical thinker often finds comfort on the fence. They fear commitment to their truths and the risk of being wrong. These fears can trigger either the ego’s insecurity or arrogance. The insecure ego is apprehensive about being responsible for their truth and will want to avoid looking or feeling foolish. Whereas, the fear of being wrong can be dissonant with an arrogant ego and the notion that they don’t make mistakes, when in fact, there is no eternal version of right and wrong. The human experience is always in flux. Naturally, so is everyone’s perspective and truth.

The overly critical thinker would be wise to find courage, make a choice, and overcome their fears. If they are capable of reconnecting to their intuition, instinct, and spiritual insight, they will gain a compass of truth, integrity, and wisdom. This compass will have a true north, no matter what reality they perceive.

In love and truth,

​Lori Lines

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