Today’s world is one of instant gratification.
Take an action, receive immediate feedback.
Through evolution, our bodies have been wired to desire this instant feedback that we now so often receive. Why? Well, likely because feedback is good, it informs our ability to act in a moment.
So, the mechanisms of capitalism have done their magic. They have created a world in which we receive feedback faster than ever. Do something on the internet? Receive instant feedback. Do something in the real world? Question what you are doing and quickly check the internet to see if what you are doing makes sense.
This feedback isn’t necessarily bad in and of itself, we are wired for it because it had given us evolutionary benefits in the past. However, the effects that this feedback has on society and ourselves as individuals is worth examining.
Thinking Fast and Slow
In his book, Thinking Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman explains that our thinking is powered by two systems:
- System 1 – fast, automatic, and intuitive (your automatic response to a stimulus)
- System 2 – slow, deliberate, and conscious (an effortful response to a stimulus)
He explains that system 1, is generally the way we operate by default, whereas system 2 is generally how we operate when it comes to reflection and deliberate decision making. He also elaborates that oftentimes our system 2 will come up with stories to justify the actions of system 1.
This world of instant feedback that we live in, is damaging our ability to use our slow system (system 2) effectively.
You see, every day we have a limited amount of cognitive processing power available to us and this power is used for powering both our system 1 and system 2 decisions. Generally, system 2 decisions use a lot more of our available cognitive power, than our system 1 resources do, because system 1 is highly effective at seeing a stimulus and coming up with a response near instantaneously (it evolved this way so we could survive!).
Being the intelligent resource manager that it is, the brain prefers the opportunity to use less energy when that is an option. Energy is of course scarce, so the brain realizes that saving it for when it is truly needed is its best option.
Except, in the lens of today’s society, failing to engage our system 2s is damaging our ability to think for ourselves and form our own identity. Because, if we don’t give ourselves space to think, we don’t allow ourselves form our own opinions on ourselves and the world around us.
The result is we take opinions and ideas fed to us and operate on them as if they are facts and fail to take the time to define who we are for ourselves, instead letting the world around us define who we are.
Because the world around us provides us with so much stimulus, we waste our energy on system 1 tasks and fail to address the problems that require system 2 thinking. The problems that ultimately enable us to achieve a fulfilled life.
Now this is not to say we need to stop engaging system 1. That is both impossible and impractical. What we need to do, is engage our system 2 more often and use it to inform system 1’s behaviour.
How to Think More Slowly (Move Slowly)
Awareness, is the first step to solving a problem.
So if you have read my argument and agree with it, you are already on the path to taking more time to think slowly.
In my view, the best way to think more slowly is to move more slowly.
Stop trying to do a million things with your day (and instead try to do 3), and you will actually find that you will make more progress towards the things that really matter to you.
Deliberately slow down how quickly you walk when moving from place to place (without browsing your phone which I hope also slows you down), and you’ll find you develop more insightful thoughts.
These are just a couple of ways to move more slowly (and ultimately think more slowly). There is of course many mindfulness activities that you can engage in that should all produce similar results.
Here’s to moving (and thinking) more slowly, more often, so that we can engage in more adventurous and more fulfilling lives.
KS
p.s.
I highly encourage you to think of examples that relate to the ideas I discuss! I don’t note any specific examples myself in this article, for I want to leave it up to you to think of examples that resonate with you.
