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Why you should get slapped on the head for logic thinking

Posted on | April 30, 2010 | 21 Comments

Logic thinking is a good thing, isn’t it?

So, we’re taught.

“Think before you act.”

“Put on your thinking caps.”

“Think before you speak.”

“Think twice before you speak.”

Geez…

That’s a lot of friggin thinking…

We go to school to learn to read, write, count, solve science problems.

Then, for me, it was off to university…

For more years of relentless training to develop logic thinking (or critical thinking) skills to a high level. Super high level. Where they give you a fancy certificate and have a fancy ceremony at the end.

You know what, I wish I had Bruce Lee as a school teacher or a university lecturer.

Someone to slap me on the head when I used too much logic thinking.

This very short, CLASSIC Bruce Lee clip, from Enter The Dragon, is a MUST SEE. It’ll make your day:

YouTube Preview Image

How cool is that???

How did it feel to you?

Let me think…

SLAP!

Don’t think, FEEEEEEL.

Learning life lessons, Bruce Lee style!

Over the years, I’ve been paid a lot of money to use my logic to solve problems for other people. Unfortunately, the over-use of thinking has caused me problems.

For instance, it doesn’t help to over-use logic thinking when you want to:

Be creative… Come up with ideas…

Make major life decisions… Especially ones that involve the heart…

Discover your passion… or get the answer to, what is my purpose in life.

Relax (Definitely doesn’t help when trying to relax).

Define your values.

SLAP!

Don’t think, FEEEEEEL.

If I can’t have Bruce Lee around, I might keep a fly swatter next to me when I catch myself using too much logic thinking.

I’m doing some intense copywriting training at the moment. Coming up with a marketing message, a sales pitch, a strategy – all involves logic thinking skills.

But, I’m actually astonished. In perfecting my copywriting skills, I’m being pushed and pushed to the limits to FEEEEEEL more.

It’s because there are just some problems you can’t solve by thinking.

Bruce Lee doesn’t do a great job explaining to his young protegé how to FEEEEEEL. I reckon I’d get a few slaps from the master.

‘Coz I don’t get it half the time…

SLAP!!!

Doh, I did it again!

I’m not supposed to get it logically, FEEEEEEL.

Ever since I took action about taking the leap to leave the world of being an employee, I’ve had to completely change my approach – to making money, life, developing confidence, finding self-worth, getting answers.

If you know anything about lateralization of brain function (left brain versus right brain), then I guess this is my non-medical, non-scientific way of explaining it. It’s just how I feel about it :) .

I’ve been over-working my left brain for so long. The old right brain is getting a workout, but it’s awakening with re-energised force and vigour. And I love it.

Okay, my head’s getting sore now.

What’s your take on using critical and logic thinking skills? Do you think (SLAP!!!) we rely too much on them? Are you left brain or right brain? Or both? How do you like to solve problems?

Lina Nguyen © 2010

Category: Life Lessons From a Thinker, The art of copywriting

Comments

21 Responses to “Why you should get slapped on the head for logic thinking”

  1. Jo Carey-Bradshaw
    April 30th, 2010 @ 8:12 PM

    Hi, Lina

    Such a very, very appropriate post. :) . my first ‘feeling’ (duck) is that we here in this culture have had inculcated into us to be afraid of our feelings. I could write a post myself about why I thought (duck) this was so.. However, the meaning is clear. And I’m finding the best part of the feeling, is that it is animate – feelings rarely stay the same. Whereas thoughts can get really cement-like.
    I’m working on crossing/linking both sides of the brain. It called crawling. :)
    Jo Carey-Bradshaw´s last blog ..Empowering Mindset – Imagination My ComLuv Profile

  2. Lina
    April 30th, 2010 @ 8:43 PM

    Hi Jo

    Nice observation! So you reckon feelings are more likely to change and thoughts are more likely to be rigid? Hmmm…. I like that.

    No need to duck, there’s no slap for you! :)

    Lina

  3. David Moloney
    May 1st, 2010 @ 9:52 AM

    Hi Lina,

    I guess I’ve never really thought about it like left/right brained, but instead thought about it as rational vs emotional. I’m a firm believer that we decide using our emotions, then back up our decisions with rational benefits. So it takes two to tango.

    Your post also reminds me of the rotating silhouette, which claims to indicate whether you can think with your left and right side. Check it out here:
    http://mindbluff.com/clockwise.htm
    (I can only see it in a clockwise direction… but I’m working on it)
    David Moloney´s last blog ..Argh! 15 Mistakes That Damage Your Small Business My ComLuv Profile

  4. Tom
    May 1st, 2010 @ 1:44 PM

    I love Bruce Lee’s approach – shame we was cut short in his prime.

    Logical thinking can be a great skill to develop, but sometimes a different tool is needed for the job, particularly when it comes to big picture stuff that life occasionally throws our way.
    Tom´s last blog ..5 Steps to Make Money Working Online Using the ClickBank Affiliate Program My ComLuv Profile

  5. Gee
    May 1st, 2010 @ 10:28 PM

    Great to see Bruce Lee again. I used to love his movies, the way he brought humor(feelings) into his acting.

    I suppose I probably tend to over think things a bit. Thanks for the kick up the butt. Just what I needed about now
    Gee´s last blog ..Affiliate Marketing Books Can Help You On Your Way My ComLuv Profile

  6. Dinos
    May 1st, 2010 @ 11:00 PM

    Nice post Lina.

    I was brought up to think logically (my nickname at high school was Spock!) so I know where you’re coming from. But over the last 10 or so years my instinct/gut/emotional side has been getting stronger and stronger.

    I still believe logic is great, and most useful in most situations, but only if it feels right too… When in doubt, go with your gut :)

    Cheers
    Dino

  7. Lina
    May 2nd, 2010 @ 8:56 AM

    Hi David – Man, that thing rocks!!! I looked at it, and I saw it clockwise first… Then after about 10 seconds, I saw it anti-clockwise. I was SO FRIGGIN excited!!! Then, I tried to see it clockwise, but I couldn’t… But now I can again!!! Thanks so much for that :) .

    Hi Tom – Because you and I both went to law school (and are now lawyers), our left brain definitely got massive workouts. I’m very grateful for my high level critical and logic thinking skills, but I’m learning that a strong balance of both is good. I have an ambidextrous friend (she also became a lawyer recently) who is very strong in both sides of the brain. What a brain!

    Hi Gee, Hi Dino – Great to see you logic thinking people here. Let me know how you go with your Bruce Lee life lesson!

  8. Rishi
    May 2nd, 2010 @ 9:12 AM

    I think when it comes to solving life problems.. and when i have to use tones of heavy logic. my head starts spins around then i come to a stage where there is nothing Left in my Left Brain and nothing Right in the Right Brain.
    :-)

  9. Jazz Salinger
    May 3rd, 2010 @ 5:45 PM

    Hi Lina,

    Thanks for the Bruce Lee clip. I’d need Bruce to give me a whack often.

    I spend way too much time looking at potential decisions from every angle and weighing up each choice carefully.

    I would have said that I use my left brain predominantly but according to Dave’s puzzle; I use my right brain. Crazy!

  10. Lina
    May 3rd, 2010 @ 8:16 PM

    Hi Rishi – LOL, yes, I know that feeling too. Fried brain is what I call it :)

    Hi Jazz – There wasn’t a single part of my brain I didn’t use today. By 4pm, I was gone… My brain was definitely fried. This course is making me stretch. SLAP ME, Bruce! Where’s that fly swatter…

  11. Cade
    May 4th, 2010 @ 12:50 PM

    Hi Lina,
    I love your Bruce Lee analogy toward logical thinking.

    To my way of thinking, logical thinking is usually required if I haven’t completed a task or problem before ie. I have to (logically) think my way through the problem or process.

    However if I have previous experience with a problem or have practiced a task then I’m better equipped to feel my way through it.
    Cade´s last blog ..Technical Analysis of Stock Trends #1 – Chart Types My ComLuv Profile

  12. Lina
    May 4th, 2010 @ 5:03 PM

    Hi Cade – Nice one, thanks for sharing. You’ve got a decent brain there (!), so it’s great to hear how you work through problems and make decisions.

  13. Castaly Lombe
    May 6th, 2010 @ 10:58 PM

    Hi Lina, Loved the Bruce Lee clip as I approach my 2nd Dan Black belt testing. Martial arts is both art and science, left and right, logic and emotion, hard and soft, ying and yang, as Bruce lee so beautifully demonstrates…and it teaches it’s students to balance opposites, to learn to fight to avoid a fight…. A great eastern tradition.
    In my own life I let logic decide and emotion guide…and that works for me. But I do tend to hide my heart behind the logic and intellectualise rather than emotion-wise. Like Martial arts the beauty, the zone, is in the fine balance of two excellent facaulties.Please don’t slap me!
    Castaly Lombe´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at My ComLuv Profile

  14. Lina
    May 7th, 2010 @ 8:03 AM

    Hi Castaly – LOL, no I won’t slap you… Only two people are entitled to slap you: Yourself… and Bruce Lee! I did Karate for a couple of years (long time ago now) and I loved it. Totally get what you’re saying. Nice explanation of how you use your logic thinking and emotions, by the way. And GOOD LUCK for your testing!!! You kick ass!!!

  15. Eileen
    May 7th, 2010 @ 9:22 AM

    Hi Lina,

    I will be sure to keep my eyes on YOU! :-)

    I agree with what Jo was saying earlier too. Thoughts can become concrete and yet feelings are ever changing..and just as well.

    Enjoyed the read. Thanks!

    Eileen.
    Eileen´s last blog ..Cradle Cap Treatment My ComLuv Profile

  16. Lina
    May 7th, 2010 @ 2:56 PM

    Hi Elieen

    That poor kid, getting slapped for taking his eyes off his opponent… Who happens to be Bruce Lee! Yes, I liked Jo’s comment too. Very insightful, our Jo.

  17. Lizzy
    May 17th, 2010 @ 5:59 PM

    Love it, love it, love it!

    Wish I’d read this when you first posted it (slap self!!).

    Spot on Lina, as ever. I’m in the process of setting up a home business and am on logic overload at the moment. This is just what I needed, thank you!

    Lizzy :-)
    Lizzy´s last blog ..Wealth and Success My ComLuv Profile

  18. Lina
    May 18th, 2010 @ 7:05 PM

    SLAP, Lizzy!

    LOL…

    Great to see you again. You’ll do great with the business :)

  19. Yang
    May 31st, 2010 @ 5:48 PM

    The way each of us approach an idea, concept, problem or task is unique. Our own balance of logic/heart (left or right brain).

    I think we need to use a healthy balance between the two. I am very much a right brainer, love being creative and following my heart, but know that I need to inject some logic into my routine so I don’t get too carried away :)

    As for the spinning silhouette that David left a link for, originally I saw it spinning clockwise, but with a little concentration I can see it spin either way.

    Now my brain needs a rest…

  20. Imeleta
    July 23rd, 2010 @ 10:28 PM

    Hi Linda
    I’m very much a right brainer love being creative my hubby is more logic so great balance there.
    Loved your post:)

  21. Lina
    July 31st, 2010 @ 1:04 PM

    Thanks Imeleta. I’m beginning to learn that it’s the balance in thinking that’s important.

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