Current e-Journal

Catalytic Thinking Exercise:
What if that's not true?

In last week’s newsletter, we talked about the power of beginner’s mind. When we assume we are the expert (“I already know / do that”), we close off possibilities.

This week, let’s focus on what happens when we apply those same limiting assumptions to PEOPLE.

Assumptions are the stories we tell ourselves, that we believe to be “the truth.” As we talked about in last week’s newsletter, when we set aside those assumptions, we open the door to being more creative, more inquisitive, more open to learning.

Unfortunately, our brains often lead us away from that wisdom. That all stems from the brain’s energy-saving system. Imagine the energy our brains would need if, every time we ate we had to think, "Now I'm going to eat. Open my mouth, lift the fork, chew..." To avoid that energy drain, the brain creates thought-shortcuts, most of which can be very helpful as we go through our day-to-day.

The dark side of those brain shortcuts is that it leads to making all sorts of assumptions and snap judgments. And just like what happens when we’re in expert mode, those assumptions can get in the way of the kind of understanding that is critical for true social justice.

This week’s Catalytic Thinking exercise is therefore aimed at slowing down, to ensure our shortcuts and assumptions aren’t getting in the way of our understanding and empathy.

Try This
Several years ago, our colleague Elae Moss Benedetto posted this:

Try this trick:
Assume you don't know anyone's gender. 
Do whatever you'd do if you weren't sure. 
Because you probably aren't.

Talk about busting your assumptions! In addition to gender, consider what might change if you assume you don't know anyone's...

• story, aspirations, traumas or triggers
• family or relationship situation, desire / ability to marry or have kids
• education, income level, work situation
• health or ability issues
• race, ethnicity

Using Elae’s words,

Assume you don't know anyone's race or ethnicity. Do whatever you'd do if you weren't sure. Because you probably aren't.

Assume you don't know anyone's story, their aspirations or their traumas. Do whatever you'd do if you weren't sure. Because you probably aren't.

Assume you don’t know anyone’s education or income level. Do whatever you’d do if you weren’t sure. Because you probably aren’t.

As you try this exercise, think of what other categories you might add. And as you head into your day, vow to listen, as the most powerful step you can take in opening your mind. In Elae’s words, “Do whatever you would do if you weren’t sure.”

Building a more compassionate world begins and ends with each of us, and at the heart of that understanding is listening. That is why Catalytic Listening is built into the heart of the Catalytic Thinking framework.