When I thought of writing an essay on this subject, I felt that I was trying to say why I should have a critical mind and thus analyze and examine closely whatever I come across on a daily basis. Then as I started to write down some notes, I reached the conclusion that this is indeed a crucial characteristic which one needs to have and here is why.
Having a critical mind is an important attribute for a number of reasons. On many occasions, I found having one allowed me to use in-depth analysis of evidence to make decisions and guide my decision process as well. Whenever I intend to decide what to do or what I should do regarding a matter, because of undertaking to train myself to think according to this attitude, I examine all possibilities equating with this particular matter which eventually leads me to make a better and wise decision.
Critical mind also assists me in communicating my beliefs clearly and accurately. If I want to state an idea, thinking critical makes me consider all of the possibilities on how to deliver it in the best way possible so that people will appreciate it and well receive it as well.
When people express their appreciation of the way I chose to present my points or thoughts, I turn to them explaining this is in fact due to deliberate thinking I taught myself to do before portraying my opinion toward the issue under question. Additionally, it helps me defend a reasonable position, as well as formulate plausible hypotheses, and ask appropriate clarifying questions. This is simply because I think deeply and reflect thoroughly before communicating the message I what to convey.
When the information is given to me or I come across them, critical mindset allows me to integrate all items associated with what I am dealing with and, as a consequence, helps me to decide what to believe or do. In other words, I put all the data I have available on the table and carefully examine them to reach a conclusion on what to do with what I have or how to proceed from there.
Critical mindset also helps me judge well the credibility of sources, identifies conclusions, reasons, assumptions. Furthermore, it helps to evaluate quality of an argument in terms of acceptability of its reasons, assumptions, and evidence.
Overall, I hope that aforementioned reasons illustrate genuinely why it is indeed crucial to have a critical mindset over the passive one. I would venture to say that it is the key to success and that successful people around us possess such vital characteristic.
(Dr. Khalid Al-Seghayer is a Saudi academic. He is based in Riyadh.)