In a changing world, it is easy to make assumptions that no longer hold true.
One of the commonest ways of doing this is called ‘blinkered thinking’ or ‘extreme thinking’.
Blinkered thinking happens when we only see part of the picture. We make mountains out of molehills or ignore the elephant in the room. We see the world in terms of opposite extremes: either “utter failure” or “success beyond our wildest dreams.” Reality, of course, lies somewhere in between.
To get a better grip on what is really happening, we first need to recognise that the blinkered or extreme thinking is happening. The key sign to look out for is the use of extreme words such as “everybody”/“nobody,” “always”/“never,” “impossible”/“inevitable”, “entirely”/“not even slightly”, “everywhere”/“nowhere”, and so on. If we are the person suffering from the extreme thinking, these words can be surprisingly difficult to spot. But anybody who uses words like these could well be suffering from extreme thinking.
Once we have spotted the words, our next step is to realise that these extreme thoughts are not reality, they are only assumptions — and in a changing world these assumptions might no longer hold true. So the next step is to identify what is the opposite of the extreme. Then look for the possibilities that lie between the two: here is where reality lies. And as you look more closely you might find that, “Yes, the extreme thinking is correct, and these are the specific reasons why it is correct.” This will bring you new clarity about what actions to take. More likely, however, you will realise that the situation is not quite as bad (or not quite as good) as it is being painted. This opens up a gap of possibility. And now the appropriate actions can become clearer. (Chapters Two and Three describe this in more detail.)
Spotting elephants and molehills is a key first step to recognising when we and other people are in the grip of extreme thinking. This enables us to build a more accurate understanding of the true situation. And that then enables us to find and take the actions that will make us more likely to create the outcomes we want.
Can you think of a politician or talk show host who loves to make mountains out of molehills, stirring up passion about something that doesn’t really matter. Can you think of one who is ignoring the massive elephant in the room? What would be a more balanced assessment of reality?
Adapted from The Churning, Inner Leadership: a framework and a set of tools for building inspiration in a time of change.
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