In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: To be a more effective thinker you're going to need to challenge the assumptions you make. Your thinking is going to be directly influenced by that of your cultural and social surroundings. You will need to determine for yourself whether or not this thinking is productive or useful. Consider multiple points of view. If you hear something, even something that sounds good, pursue it through other sources. Look for facts that support or refute it and see what other people have to say. For example: say you hear that bras can give women cancer and it sounds like an interesting theory (also, now you're worried about wearing a bra), so you start to look into it. Eventually you'll wade through the claims and find that there isn't any evidence to support this claim, but if you hadn't considered multiple points of view, you wouldn't have uncovered the truth, so to speak. People who are considered "great thinkers" are people who have cultivated their curiosity. They ask questions about the world and about themselves, and they look for answers to these questions.  Ask people about themselves. You don't have to be super invasive, but when you meet someone, ask them questions about themselves (where are you from? what did you study in school? why did you choose to study that? and so on). People love to talk about themselves and you will find out many interesting things you might not otherwise have learned. Practice curiosity about the world in general. For example, if you're flying on a plane, look into the mechanics of flying, how air currents work, maybe even the history of the plane (don't just look at the Wright brothers). When you get a chance, go to museums (they often have free days at least once a month), go to library events, or lectures at your local college. These are all great ways to satisfy your curiosity about the world without it costing much or anything. " The difficult part about this step is that there isn't always one ultimate "truth." Still, doing the best you can to get to the heart of a matter (social, political, personal, etc.) will help you greatly exercise and deepen your existing thinking skills.  Do your best to pick your way through rhetorical landmines on certain issues to find out what the evidence (true facts) actually shows. Make sure to keep an open mind as you're doing this, otherwise you'll start to ignore all the facts except those that support the claim you believe or agree with. For example: the issue of climate change has become greatly politicized which has made it difficult for people to pick through the actual facts (i.e. climate change is happening and it is happening rapidly and it is due to humans) because there is so much misinformation and finger pointing that the real facts have a tendency to get ignored or subverted). . A good way to cultivate your thinking skills is to use your creative thinking to help you come up with unusual and outside-the-box strategies to cope with unusual events. It's a way to practice using your thinking skills at school, at work, even on the bus.  Daydreaming has been shown to be an incredibly powerful tool for people in terms of thinking, problem-solving and making things happen. Set aside a little time each day to allow yourself to daydream. Just find a quiet place and let your mind roam freely *before you go to bed is usually a good time for this).  If you're having difficulty with a problem and are looking for a creative way of overcoming it, there are a couple good questions to ask yourself: ask yourself what you would do if you had access to any resources in the world; ask yourself who you would ask to help you if you could ask anyone; ask yourself what you might try if you weren't afraid of failure. These questions allow you to open up your mind to possibilities rather than seeing only the limitations. You want to make sure that you know how to acquire information and good information. There is a lot nonsense out there, some of which can seem very real. You'll need to learn to figure out the difference between good sources of information and bad sources.  The library is an amazing resource for finding out information! Not only do they have books and movies and documentaries that you can borrow, they also often offer free classes and workshops, or information on free classes and workshops. They have librarians who can either answer your questions or direct you to the appropriate information. Libraries, also, often have archives with pictures and newspapers from your hometown or city and can be a great resource for learning more about where you live. Certain places on the internet can be great for offering up information. You can get good computational and scientific knowledge from Wolfram|Alpha, you can look at digitized manuscripts from medieval ones to later artists' notebooks, or you could try out some free learning on the Open University website. Remember that you should always practice a healthy level of skepticism about whatever you learn (whether on the internet or in a book, or in a documentary). Sticking to the facts and keeping an open mind will help you more than any natural intelligence.
Summary: Challenge assumptions. Develop curiosity. Seek the "truth. Find creative solutions Acquire information.

Problem: Article: Trust is hard to build if people don't think you are honest. If you say things to either get your way or to please others, pretty soon people will catch on. Get to know your thoughts and feelings and communicate them to others in a respectful way. Make your actions and words match.  If you're going to be late or miss something, let the person know. Don't say you'll maybe be there if you can't make it. Be honest and genuine about your wants, likes, and dislikes and communicate them. For example, don't say you want to eat Chinese food to please your friend, then complain about not eating what you want. If you back out of plans last minute, chances are people won't trust you to do things or won't feel like they can count on you. If you say you'll be somewhere, be there. If you say you'll help your friend, help your friend. Once people see you as reliable, they will begin to trust you and count on you. For example, if someone proposes plans, try not to waver on them too long. You might fear committing to plans, but show that you're reliable and say either yes or no. . Respect goes a long way in building and maintaining trusting friendships. Treat people with dignity and as equals to yourself. How you treat others shows the kind of person you are and whether you're deserving of people's trust. For example, listen when people speak without speaking over them. Don't make everything about you. If you're known as a gossip or someone who spreads rumors, chances are nobody will trust you. Drop this habit and learn to speak to people and about people differently. If you're not sure about something, ask the person directly instead of spreading a rumor. People want to know that you will treat them well and not say mean things about them to others. People notice when you look out for other people and offer to help. Treat people you know and don't know with kindness. Be polite and show up for your friends when they need you.  For example, ask a friend if they need help moving or if they need a hug after a difficult day. Being a friend to someone who's in need can show that you're a worthwhile and trustworthy friend. Being vulnerable is an important part of friendship. By telling your friends your secrets, insecurities, and deepest thoughts, you are showing them that you trust them. In return, they may share their most intimate thoughts with you. It can be hard to open up at first. Start small. Talk about things that are important to you. When the time is right, share more about yourself. It is important that you do not judge or laugh at your friends when they open up to you. Good friends are nonjudgmental when their friend shares something important to them.
Summary:
Be honest. Show that you're reliable. Treat your friends with respect Avoid spreading rumors or lies. Be kind to others. Open up to your friends.