World Thinking Day
Tomorrow is World Thinking Day. This is an initiative that was created by the Girl Guides and Scouts in 1926. On 22nd February each year, the event encourages members to think about the big issues affecting them and their global community, topics such as poverty, environmental sustainability, gender equality and access to education. We’re sure you agree that there is huge value in encouraging young people to ‘stop and think’. As adults, how regularly do we schedule this type of reflection time?
Making time to reflect on big topics and events around us can offer a myriad of benefits:
Increased Awareness: When reflecting, we become more aware of our surroundings, including social, environmental, and cultural factors. Heightened awareness naturally leads to a deeper understanding of our world and the people in it.
Critical Thinking: Reflection prompts us to analyse and evaluate the events, trends, and issues unfolding around us. It helps us question assumptions, consider multiple perspectives, and hold more informed viewpoints.
Problem Solving: Reflecting helps us identify problems and challenges, as well as opportunities for improvement. This process sparks creativity and innovation, leading to more optimised problem-solving strategies.
Empathy and Understanding: Reflecting allows us to put ourselves in the shoes of ‘the other’, appreciating different viewpoints, respecting experiences and developing greater compassion for others.
Personal Growth: Reflecting encourages us to consider how we might contribute positively to our communities, and the impact and value that we can bring to our world.
Adaptability: Reflecting on changing circumstances and emerging trends helps us adapt to new situations and challenges more effectively, by enabling us to anticipate and respond to changes in a more proactive manner.
Community Engagement: Reflection inspires us to take action and to contribute to positive change within our communities (both personal and professional). We feel motivated to participate in activities, advocate for causes we believe in, and engage in meaningful dialogue with others.
So, on this World Thinking Day, we encourage you to schedule regular time to reflect. Choose a topic, big or small, and employ some of our Reflection Techniques:
- What are your views on this topic?
- How do you feel about this topic?
- How have your views and feelings been informed?
- How subjective / objective are your responses?
- How might others reflect on this topic?
- What opposing views exist?
- How might you empathise with these views?
- What can you learn from others?
- Where are the challenges / benefits?
- Where are the improvements and opportunities?
- What is your appetite for change?
- How able are you to adapt?
- What actions can you take?
- What have you learned from this reflection?
Let us know how you get on!
