How Your Mind Really Works

How Your Mind Really Works

By Steve Pavlina

How is it that your mind is capable(ˈkāpəbəl) of handling new situations you’ve never previously(ˈprēvēəslē) encountered(enˈkoun(t)ər)? How do you solve a problem you’ve never solved before? Is this just the magic(ˈmajik) of consciousness(ˈkänCHəsnəs), or is there an underlying process — or algorithm(ˈalgəˌriT͟Həm) — your mind uses behind the scenes to deal with the unique experiences you encounter each day? And if there is a process(ˈpräsəs), how can you use it to improve your ability to think?

Computers are still very inflexible(inˈfleksəbəl) at solving problems they’ve never seen, but your mind is not nearly so limited. Without much difficulty you can converse(ˈkänˌvərs) with someone you’ve never met before, read and understand something you’ve never read before, or navigate(ˈnaviˌgāt) a shopping mall you’ve never visited before.

Your ability to handle new situations goes way beyond behavior though. You can solve a problem entirely(enˈtīrlē) in your mind, even without taking any direct action. Sometimes you’re aware of the process, and sometimes it happens unconsciously, but either way there’s a purely(ˈpyo͝orlē) cognitive(ˈkägnətiv) aspect(ˈaspekt) to human intelligence(inˈtelijəns) that’s independent of behavior.

I think you’d agree that when trying to solve a new problem, the solution arises(əˈrīz) when you reach a certain(ˈsərtn) level of understanding, even before you’ve taken any action. When a new insight, decision, or perspective(pərˈspektiv) is attained(əˈtān), the action steps may be very straightforward(ˌstrātˈfôrwərd). Certainly for some problems the physical implementation(ˌimpləmənˈtāSHən) remains difficult, but that’s usually because there are remaining sub-problems that haven’t yet been solved at a cognitive level. For example, you may come to the awareness that the solution to your relationship problems is to break up with your current(ˈkə-rənt,ˈkərənt) partner, and on one level that may in fact be a solution. However, before you can implement that solution, you must solve a myriad(ˈmirēəd) of sub-problems such as how and when you’ll inform your partner, who will move out, and so on.

A problem-solving exercise

Let’s consider a simple, real-world problem, with the goal of gaining insight into the key aspects of human intelligence. This exercise should be fairly(ˈfe(ə)rlē) easy for you.

Suppose I tell you I just moved into a new house, and I have a problem. The lighting in my new home office is too dim. What can I do to fix this? (This is an actual problem I must solve.)

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https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2007/06/how-your-mind-really-works/