Beautiful Mind

BEAUTIFUL MIND

How to have a beautiful mind comprises of topics such as:

· How To Agree

· How To Disagree

· How To Differ

· How To Be Interesting

· How To Respond

· How To Listen

· Questions

· Parallel Thinking

· Concepts

· Alternatives

· Emotions And Feelings

· Values

· Diversions And Off-Course

· Information And Knowledge

· Opinion

· Interruption

· Attitude

· Starting and Topics

· ConclusionWhat is beauty? Beauty is something that can be appreciated by others. The

beautiful mind described in this book is a mind that can be appreciated by others.

It is not the mind of a person who sits in a corner and solves very complex

puzzles. It is a mind that can be appreciated by others, usually through

conversation.

The beauty of your mind shows in our conversation. Just as people can look at

our physical beauty they can listen to the beauty of our mind. If we want to make

our mind more beautiful we can. It is only by how we use our mind.

How To Agree

Agree or not agree are one of the most important aspects of any discussion. One

should genuinely seek to find points of agreement in what the other person is

saying. There is no contribution if you simply agree with everything.

There are times when we disagree at every point, which is irritating and boring.

One should remove the ego from discussion and should focus on subject matter.

We should take a genuine delight in discovering point of agreement-even when

there is small disagreement. By changing the perception to look at things in a

different way is an important step in reaching possible agreement.

How to Disagree

There are different ways to disagree, one should not disagree for the sake of

disagreeing. We should not disagree just to show how clever we are or to boost our

ego. When we disagree, we should do so politely and gently rather than rudely and

aggressively.

One may need to point out errors of logic or to show that a conclusion does not

necessarily follow from what went before. Where emotions, prejudices and

stereotypes appear to be used, one should indicate these also.

It is important to challenge ‘certainty’ and to suggest ‘possibility’ instead.

Distinguishing between having a different opinion and disagreeing with an opinion

is very important.

How to Differ

There are times when only one of a different set of opinions can be right. This is

where ‘truth’ can be checked out. More often different opinions can all have their

own validity. Difference may arise from personal preference, taste or choice.

Difference may arise from different set of values, views and perspective.

Difference may arise from different perception even if from same point of view.

Difference may arise from different personal experience or differing knowledge. We

should seek to lay out as clearly as possible the nature of the difference and lay one

opinion alongside the different one.We should seek to explore and explain the reasons for the difference, and should

reconcile the differences and then agree to differ on what cannot be reconciled.

How to be Interesting

It is always important to get to the truth, but being interesting is more important than

winning an argument. You owe it to yourself and to others to be interesting. Interest

can also arise from how you conduct a conversation.

Looking out for possibilities and alternatives enriches the conversation.

By using a formal tool ‘Now that is interesting’. Be ready to apply this to anything

we hear. When someone else opens up an interesting line of thought, go along with

it and help to develop the interest further.

How To Respond

The overall objective in any conversation might be to agree, to disagree, to agree on

the difference- and to have an enjoyable and interesting discussion.

If we are in any doubt about what has been said, it is important to ask for

clarification. Misunderstanding and arguing at cross-purposes are a waste of time

and energy.

One may want to modify an idea to make it more acceptable to himself, stronger or

more practical. Once an idea has emerged it is no longer a matter of ‘your idea’ or

‘my idea’ but an idea to be improved and assessed. Instead of the usual ‘battle’ of

argument there should be joint effort to explore the subject.

How to Listen

The ability to listen and the enjoyment of listening is a key part of developing a

beautiful mind. A good listener pays attention and seeks to get the maximum value

from what is being said. There may be new insights and realizations that are

triggered by the speaker.

We may realize other alternative perceptions and learn the reasoning’s behind a

point of view.

One should use questions to check on facts and to ask for more details around point

of interest.

Questions

Questions are a key means of interaction in any conversation or discussion. A

listener should seek to mask questions. A question is a way of ‘direct attention’ to

some matter. A question is a polite way of demanding something.

Parallel ThinkingIn traditional argument each side prepares a case and then seeks to defend that case

and to attack the other case. Actual exploration of the subject is limited. Parallel

thinking replaces the battle of argument with a joint exploration of the subject as all

parties think in parallel at any moment.

Concepts

Concepts are a very important part of thinking and a key component of a beautiful

mind. Concepts are important in generating ideas and designing ways forward.

Where there is no routine available, concepts are essential.

Alternatives

Looking for alternatives is a very important activity of a beautiful mind. Without

alternatives we have rigidity and complacency. There can be alternative perceptions

or ways of looking at something. These can lead to different judgments or actions.

Thee can be alternative set of values determined by experience, culture and

personality.

Emotion and Feeling

Emotions and feelings are a very important part of thinking. Ultimately, choices and

decisions are based on emotions and feelings. In a very serious discussion you may

want to listen first, and ask questions, before showing your feeling. In a controversy

one should show his true position: one side or the other, or above it all.

Values

Values determine what we like or do not like, value determine our choices and

decisions. Fundamental (core) values are not changed by the circumstances. The

priority of other values is determined by the circumstances. There are different types

of values such as Ecology value, quality value, innovation value, negative values

etc.

Diversions and Off-Course

Humor is a very important ingredient and a key feature of the beautiful the mind.

Humor allows speculation and enables things to be put forward as half serious and

half humorous. Humor permits exaggeration and absurdity to make a serious point.

Conversation and discussion should be as enjoyable for the mind as sport is for the

body.

Information and KnowledgeWe do not need full and complete information about a subject in order to discuss

that subject. If the other person has more information than you do, listen

intelligently and ask questions. One can also pick out some point of interest and

have a two-way conversation around that particular point.

Opinion

An opinion arises from information, values, feelings and experiences put together in

a local culture. Opinions are based on a point of view, which is the set of

circumstances in which one is placed. An opinion may be changed by new

information. A beautiful mind is always ready to change opinions. This is a

characteristic of a beautiful mind.

Interruption

Interruptions are generally rude and break the flow of what is being said. So there

needs to be a very good reason for the interruption. One can interrupt to express

doubt. Interruptions are often ‘ego-driven’. Someone wants to be noticed or feel

important. Someone wants to show he or she is smarter than the speaker.

Attitude

Attitude is very much related to self- image. There is the ‘clever’ person who has to

be right and more clever than anyone else. There is the battle attitude of win-lose.

There is the ego power game where domination is the intention. The fun attitude

sees conversation as entertainment.

Starting and Topics

Greetings, the exchanges of personal news and social chitchat in general have a very

important role in themselves. When this has been done there is a need to move on

with a conversation. There may be current local topics known to everyone in the

community. A really skilled conversationalist can create interest from any topic

whatsoever.

Conclusion

Beautiful mind is one of the qualities that make us successful in every sphere of life.

A beautiful body and a beautiful face without a beautiful mind can be boring. A

beautiful mind without a beautiful body or a beautiful face can still be attractive.

Hence we should try to develop skills and sincerely work to make our mind

beautiful. As sports are enjoyable we should also enjoy each discussion and

conversation, and that is possible only through a Beautiful Mind.