|
|
|
|
We can read. But we can't think critically of what we read anymore.
|
|
I recently watched a Youtube video that really opened up my mind and made me realized how fried our brains are.
|
Almost everyone can read. We all CAN read. But we're not able to process complex imformation. We can 't understand nuance and subtext anymore.
|
This is worrying because it shows we severely lack one very important skill which is the "deep cognitive ability".
|
What is "deep cognitive ability"?
|
It means your brain’s capacity to do the "heavy lifting" of thinking. It doesn't matter how smart you are or how much information you know.
|
It’s about your ability to focus deeply, process complex information, and hold competing ideas in your head at the same time.
|
And if we want to achieve “true literacy”, this is exactly what we need to work on.
|
What is the meaning of "true literacy"?
|
👉 "True literacy is the willingness to wrestle with complex ideas rather than rely on snapshot summaries."
|
Even if we can read, if we can't critically interpret what we read, it wouldn't be helpful.
|
Why? Because we are still prone to manipulation or being manipulated.
|
And what’s worse is that, when you cannot interpret information critically, you will be at the mercy of someone who interprets the information for you.
|
One example I can share here is, when was the last time you read the fine print of whatever you're signing up for?
|
Yes, that “terms and conditions” page that we always skip...(I do too). That's one example.
|
|
There are actually ways to take control of your focus and improve your deep cognitive ability 👇
|
|
1️⃣ The first thing is to be aware when you’re hooked by the algorithm.
When you scroll through any social media platform, have you noticed how it triggers various emotions in you?
|
Because its main purpose is to KEEP you scrolling on the platform. The content shown to you is designed to keep you in a heightened emotional state.
|
This is how our dopamine is hacked without us realizing it all. And if you are not aware of this, you are giving away your cognitive agency.
|
👉 Cognitive agency is our capacity and freedom to think, make decisions, and control our own minds without being influenced or controlled by external factors.
|
If we don't take care of our cognitive agency, our emotions and thought processes will always be controlled by what we see on our feed.
|
Over time, people become less and less rational, more reactive, and eventually, lose the ability to direct their own minds.
|
Another way to rebuild our cognitive skills is to relearn how to retain our attention and break that dopamine loop.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Do you know anyone who would love this newsletter? 💌
|
|
If you have a friend who would love this kind of content, please forward this email to them. I’m on a mission to increase my subscribers, and I’d be incredibly grateful if you helped me share it! Thanks a lot 🫶
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2️⃣ Consume long-form content >>>> short-form
For instance, start reading long-form content. It can be books, journal articles, or Substack & newsletters that offer real value.
|
And instead of watching short-form videos like Reels or TikTok, start watching documentaries or longer informational videos on YouTube to rebuild your attention span AND retrain your thinking skills.
|
3️⃣ Read something you don't agree with
Another strategy is to read something you disagree with - not to change your opinion or validate the opposing views.
|
But to build different perspectives on the topic and to be able to hold competing ideas in your head at the same time.
|
This is a very powerful skill to master!
|
I hope today's email is useful, and by knowing this, we can improve our deep cognitive ability 🧠✨
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A GUIDED WORKBOOK IN PROGRESS 🛠️
|
|
I'm launching a step-by-step workbook designed to help you map out your own portable career 👩🏻💻 Stay tuned and watch this space!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
