How To Have A Beautiful Mind

Millions software for computers

Software for the human brain

Great physical beauty with a boring mind is boring

You might get attention but will never keep that attention

Older, physical will fade

Beauty of Mind is independent of age

Can actually increase with wisdom and experience

Ways?

1.How To Agree

2.How To Disagree

3.How To Listen

4.How To Differ

5.How To Respond

How To Agree

Genuinely seek to find points of agreement – not sycophantic pretence

No contribution if you simply agree with everything

Other person view right – spell it out

Changing perceptions to look at

things in different way is an

important step

Do not disagree for the sake of disagreeing

Do not disagree just to show how clever you are or to boost your ego

Do so politely and gently /= rudely and

aggressively

Distinguish between having a different opinion and disagreeing with

an opinion

Point out that a fact or statement is simply wrong

How To

Listening is not just having to wait impatiently until you can yourself speak

A good listener pays attention and seeks to get the maximum value

You should make a habit of

repeating back to the speaker

what you think you have

understood

You should use question to check on fact

How To Differ

There are times when only one of a different set of opinions can be right

Seek to explore and explain the reasons for the difference

Different may arise from:

- Personal preference, values, point of view

- Perception, personal experience

How To Respond

Go further than just agreeing with

a point that has been made

You may wish to extend a

suggestion by enlarging it and

growing the suggestion

You may want to modify an idea to make it more

acceptable to yourself, stronger and more practical

Instead of the usual ‘battle’ of arguments there is a joint effort to explore the subject

Additional

1. Questions

2. Concept

3. Alternatives

4. Emotion And Feeling

5. Information and Knowledge

6. Attitude

Questions are key

means of interaction

in any conversation

or discussion. A

listener should seek

to ask question

Concept

Concepts are like parents that breed children (ideas) and like road junctions that open up several other roads

Alternatives

Because we have an adequate ways of doing

something does not mean that there might not be

a much better way. If we try we can find that

better way

Emotion And Feeling

Adjectives are usually subjective and tell more about

what their user is feeling than about the matter

itself. Beware of adjectives used to make a point in

place of logic or information

Ultimately, choices and decisions are based on emotions and feelings

Information And Knowledge

You do not need full and complete information about a subject in order to discuss that subject

Very little information?? Imagination and speculation is the basis for discussion

Credit

Pictures: Flickr.com Random Google Search

Book: How To Have A Beautiful Mind by Edward de Bono

Quotes: Brainyquotes.com