Contribute Contribute Something to the Something to the

WorldWorldAll material is from All material is from 25 Days 25 Days to Better Thinking & Better to Better Thinking & Better Living…Living…by Drs. Elder and by Drs. Elder and

Paul, Pearson, 2006.Paul, Pearson, 2006.

Look for opportunities to Look for opportunities to improve the quality of life improve the quality of life

on Earthon Earth

Make a list of all the Make a list of all the things that you do things that you do currently to currently to contribute to contribute to others’ lives, or to others’ lives, or to the health of the the health of the Earth.Earth.

Make a list of Make a list of additional things additional things you can do; think you can do; think about how you can about how you can fit some new ways fit some new ways of contributing into of contributing into your schedule; into your schedule; into your life.your life.

““Notice how others Notice how others contribute…contribute…

……do those around you contribute to a do those around you contribute to a more just world, or do they mainly more just world, or do they mainly serve themselves?”serve themselves?”

(Drs. Elder and Paul, (Drs. Elder and Paul, Ibid)Ibid)

If you don’t have a lot of If you don’t have a lot of time…time…

Think about making greater financial Think about making greater financial contributions.contributions.

But, as our authors urge us, “Do But, as our authors urge us, “Do something”.something”.

(Ibid)(Ibid)

The goal of critical The goal of critical thought…thought…

Is to improve how we think and how we Is to improve how we think and how we act—both in our personal lives and in act—both in our personal lives and in relationship to others—and, thus, to relationship to others—and, thus, to improve the quality of life on Earth.improve the quality of life on Earth.

Thinking critically brings implications for Thinking critically brings implications for how you treat and relate to others.how you treat and relate to others.

(Ibid)(Ibid)

““From an ethical point of From an ethical point of view…view…

Many ways to Many ways to contribute to a just contribute to a just and sane worldand sane world

We are obligated to We are obligated to help others who help others who are incapable of are incapable of helping themselveshelping themselves

““Each of us is Each of us is ethically charged ethically charged with doing what we with doing what we can to improve the can to improve the quality of life, both quality of life, both of humans and of of humans and of other creatures other creatures susceptible to pain susceptible to pain and suffering.”and suffering.”

((Drs. Elder & Paul, IbidDrs. Elder & Paul, Ibid))

Strategies from Elder Strategies from Elder and Paul:and Paul:

1.1. Many groups are Many groups are fighting for fighting for justice, for justice, for improved improved conditions, for conditions, for alleviation of pain alleviation of pain and suffering…and suffering…

Carefully select a Carefully select a group and group and contribute—contribute—locally, nationally, locally, nationally, or internationally. or internationally. Select one and get Select one and get involved.involved.

((Ibid)Ibid)

……strategies from our strategies from our authors:authors:

2.2. Think about Think about your circle of your circle of influence, and influence, and act.act.

Work to create Work to create helping helping environments.environments.

e.g., “Can you improve e.g., “Can you improve the quality of life for the quality of life for the people you work the people you work with? What about the with? What about the people you live with?people you live with?

e.g., “Notice how much e.g., “Notice how much you give to others you give to others and how much you and how much you take or demand for take or demand for yourself.”yourself.”

(Ibid)(Ibid)

… … more strategies:more strategies:

3.3. Discover your Discover your strengths and use strengths and use those strengths to those strengths to contribute.contribute.

4.4. Read widely and Read widely and critically well-critically well-researched books on researched books on a range of world a range of world problems.problems.

e.g., “If you are good at e.g., “If you are good at writing, you might write writing, you might write letters to newspaper letters to newspaper editors”…or to your editors”…or to your Representatives.Representatives.

Reading may illuminate Reading may illuminate how many world how many world problems exist due to problems exist due to greed and vested greed and vested interests.interests.

(Drs. Elder & Paul, Ibid)(Drs. Elder & Paul, Ibid)

Educate yourself Educate yourself & contribute… & contribute…

““I believe, because I believe, because knowledge is in short supply.”knowledge is in short supply.”

-Warren Parkes-Warren Parkes

Daily Reflection NotesDaily Reflection Notes

Print the following slide, one copy Print the following slide, one copy for each day of this week, for each day of this week, (remember to (remember to use “print current slide” and use grayscale).use “print current slide” and use grayscale).

Reflecting and making some notes Reflecting and making some notes on your thoughts and experiences of on your thoughts and experiences of the day help to internalize this the day help to internalize this “challenge”, as you know.“challenge”, as you know.

DAILY REFLECTION NOTESDAILY REFLECTION NOTES Today I was successful in using the following ideas/strategies:Today I was successful in using the following ideas/strategies:

The key insights that emerged for me today were:The key insights that emerged for me today were:

One problem in my thinking that I now realize is:One problem in my thinking that I now realize is:

I plan to continue working on this problem using the following strategy:I plan to continue working on this problem using the following strategy:

The source for this material The source for this material is…is…

25 Days to Better Thinking and Better Living: A Guide for 25 Days to Better Thinking and Better Living: A Guide for Improving Every Aspect of Your Life,Improving Every Aspect of Your Life, by Dr. Linda Elder & by Dr. Linda Elder & Dr. Richard Paul, Pearson, 2006; and the Center and Dr. Richard Paul, Pearson, 2006; and the Center and Foundation for Critical Thinking, CA.Foundation for Critical Thinking, CA.