Today is the day Today is the day to…to…

be independentbe independent

The source for this material The source for this material and for our 25-Day CT and for our 25-Day CT Challenge is…Challenge is…

25 Days to Better Thinking and Better 25 Days to Better Thinking and Better Living: Living: A Guide for Improving Every Aspect of Your A Guide for Improving Every Aspect of Your

Life,Life, by Dr. Linda Elder & Dr. Richard by Dr. Linda Elder & Dr. Richard Paul, Pearson, 2006; and the Center and Paul, Pearson, 2006; and the Center and Foundation for Critical Thinking, CA.Foundation for Critical Thinking, CA.

Don’t be SubservientDon’t be Subservient

““Be on the lookout for submissive Be on the lookout for submissive behavior—yours and others’.behavior—yours and others’.

One of the hallmarks of One of the hallmarks of submissiveness is conformity, a submissiveness is conformity, a phenomenon common in human phenomenon common in human life.”life.”

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

……and don’t be an underdogand don’t be an underdog

Submissiveness may make you feel Submissiveness may make you feel resentfulresentful

You may just think negative thoughtsYou may just think negative thoughts

You may feel impotent when you You may feel impotent when you have “just gone along” against your have “just gone along” against your willwill

(Ibid)(Ibid)

Perhaps you make Perhaps you make flippant or sarcastic flippant or sarcastic commentscomments

You may act in a You may act in a passive/aggressive waypassive/aggressive way

(Ibid)(Ibid)

Our authors remind us…Our authors remind us…

““Don’t blame others for controlling you Don’t blame others for controlling you when you do not take control of when you do not take control of

yourself.”yourself.”

(Ibid)(Ibid)

““NO MAN IS FREE WHO IS NOT NO MAN IS FREE WHO IS NOT MASTER OF HIMSELF.”MASTER OF HIMSELF.”

- Epictetus- Epictetus

An underdog learns the art of helplessnessAn underdog learns the art of helplessness……

““These people exchange These people exchange freedom to achieve other freedom to achieve other ends…ends… securitysecurity protectionprotection advancementadvancement and/or…to achieveand/or…to achieve indirect influence over the indirect influence over the

top dog”top dog”

Some underdogs are very Some underdogs are very skilled and clever indeedskilled and clever indeed

Some apparently Some apparently subservient people can subservient people can even “control” unskillful even “control” unskillful top dogstop dogs

They are often able to get They are often able to get what they want in this what they want in this mannermanner (Ibid)(Ibid)

What if you notice people What if you notice people

“…“…being being submissive in submissive in relationship to relationship to you?”you?”

Ask yourself:Ask yourself: Why are they doing Why are they doing

this? this? What are they after? What are they after? Do they get what Do they get what

they want through they want through this submissive this submissive behavior?behavior?

(Ibid)(Ibid)

……and, people can switch and, people can switch roles:roles:

““People are often subservient in some People are often subservient in some situations and dominating in others.”situations and dominating in others.” e.g., subservient at the office; dominating at e.g., subservient at the office; dominating at

homehome e.g., subservient to spouse; dominating to e.g., subservient to spouse; dominating to

childrenchildren

(Ibid)(Ibid)

Rational persons do not Rational persons do not want to play either role,want to play either role,

……and they work to avoid both a top dog or underdog and they work to avoid both a top dog or underdog pattern. Top dog and underdog patterns exists in numerous pattern. Top dog and underdog patterns exists in numerous settings in human life, leading to much suffering, injustice, and settings in human life, leading to much suffering, injustice, and cruelty.cruelty.

(Ibid)(Ibid)

See pp. 47-48 for more discussion by our authors regarding See pp. 47-48 for more discussion by our authors regarding these patterns—how to recognize them and what they may these patterns—how to recognize them and what they may mean.mean.

Begin observing your Begin observing your behavior when with others:behavior when with others:

Do you tend to “go along”?Do you tend to “go along”? Do you resent it afterwards?Do you resent it afterwards? Do you feel someone else has unreasonable Do you feel someone else has unreasonable

control over you?control over you?

Bring these feelings and thoughts to the forefront Bring these feelings and thoughts to the forefront in order to get command of behavior that you in order to get command of behavior that you want to changewant to change

Six StrategiesSix Strategies

Dr. Elder and Dr. Paul offer six Dr. Elder and Dr. Paul offer six strategies that you can use for strategies that you can use for avoiding irrational submission.avoiding irrational submission.

See pp. 48-50 in their book, See pp. 48-50 in their book, (Ibid).(Ibid).

Remember that these Remember that these points…points…

Reflect the tip of the icebergReflect the tip of the iceberg Are a “fast track” sprint; a Berlitz course, if you Are a “fast track” sprint; a Berlitz course, if you

will;will; Present an overview of what takes much Present an overview of what takes much

longer to truly develop…of what requires much longer to truly develop…of what requires much deeper focus and practice in your thinking;deeper focus and practice in your thinking;

Even the original plan of our authors was for a Even the original plan of our authors was for a 25-week “fast track”, not 25-week “fast track”, not 25 days 25 days !!

Today is the day Today is the day to…to…

be independentbe independent

DAILY REFLECTION DAILY REFLECTION NOTESNOTES

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: