Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums

BlackWigger · 10-08-2008, 09:28 PM

You know... when you get in a tight situation, and you dont even have seconds to make a decision or come up with a solution. Or in social situations, when you have to be witty and come up with a good retort, or simply crack a joke.
Simply put... quick thinking. How to improve it ?

hugofortin · 10-09-2008, 12:04 AM

Hi,

Maybe, you should join a improvisation club. It should help. So, the more you pratice your hability to think fast, the more you will improve it.

I hope it help.

bye

Hugo

smartile · 10-09-2008, 12:29 AM

Hi BlackWigger,

You could try getting into alot of trouble at school or at work. I find that the more times I'm in trouble, the faster I think; so I can get out of trouble.

ThoughtAddict · 10-09-2008, 02:56 AM

Smartile's on to something, but it may not be advisable to get into trouble.

Improvisational, on-the-spot speaking helped me. The adrenaline of being on the spot simulated the feeling of being in trouble, without all the negative consequences. If you're in college, look into a mock trial program or improvisational theater.

xeo · 10-09-2008, 03:08 AM

In addition to what was said above, try exercising (lifting or running) if you don't already. I've noticed it helps with my mental clarity and allows me to be quick on my feet.

Dagan · 10-09-2008, 03:36 AM

reading alot of books as well always helps, use quotes that you like in everyday sentances start writing your own quotes as well... this will promote more of this type of though allowing you to thing faster on your feet and also pull quotes and facts out of thin air... also if your pationate about something have a conversation about this with someone who is also passionate may be with the same beliefs or different (different usually will promote better conversations).

gr8tocre8 · 10-09-2008, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackWigger

You know... when you get in a tight situation, and you dont even have seconds to make a decision or come up with a solution. Or in social situations, when you have to be witty and come up with a good retort, or simply crack a joke.
Simply put... quick thinking. How to improve it ?

Make a postulate to the Universe - say something like "I choose to have the ability to think quick, replying with clever responses in any situation. Please show me the next step".

Then, watch, as you go through your day. The universe will start guiding you in the right direction, and as long as you're willing to listen, you will encounter the right people/circumstances, so that your problem will no longer be a problem. Just remember to keep asking "show me the next step".

This technique has created miracles in my own life.

Elrond · 10-09-2008, 06:39 AM

Trust your intuition and its ability to bring to you the right thoughts at the right times.

Whenever I am witty or funny, it is not because I think about "what can I say now? What can a retort be to that?" It often just comes to me. Actually, it seems like trying to force it makes it harder.

Throwback24 · 10-09-2008, 07:09 AM

I'm encountering the same problem, I always end up saying/doing something stupid under pressure when normally I'd do the opposite. Pressure bursts my pipes

Brutha · 10-09-2008, 02:48 PM

I think it's about practice.
To have practice you have to be willing to fail and to say stupid things.

Dannyboy1 · 10-09-2008, 03:01 PM

How do you think faster? Thinking is the problem. The key to being good at improv is to be able to be in flow and NOT think. Thinking is what slows you down and causes to second guess yourself. Have you ever been hanging out with a friend or group of friends and just riffed? You kept them laughing for a few minutes...? Think back. Were you thinking then? Nope. You were going off the top of your head. Thinking KILLS improvisation.

smartile · 10-09-2008, 04:37 PM

I agree with Brutha,

Quote:

I think it's about practice.
To have practice you have to be willing to fail and to say stupid things.

I'd say that's the quickest way to mastery of pretty much anything.

BlackWigger · 10-10-2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dannyboy1

How do you think faster? Thinking is the problem. The key to being good at improv is to be able to be in flow and NOT think. Thinking is what slows you down and causes to second guess yourself. Have you ever been hanging out with a friend or group of friends and just riffed? You kept them laughing for a few minutes...? Think back. Were you thinking then? Nope. You were going off the top of your head. Thinking KILLS improvisation.

Well I figured the unconscious mind is the sole drive for quick 'thinking'. But I wondered how to utilize it more effectivelly. I guess I have to figure out a way in which I can practice this

Marth · 10-10-2008, 04:58 PM

Thanks for posting this, I had a similar question. I tend to over-think decisions which makes my reaction time slower, I will also try these methods thank you guys.

10-08-2008, 09:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
BlackWigger Banned Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 95	How to think faster ? You know... when you get in a tight situation, and you dont even have seconds to make a decision or come up with a solution. Or in social situations, when you have to be witty and come up with a good retort, or simply crack a joke. Simply put... quick thinking. How to improve it ?

10-09-2008, 12:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
hugofortin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ottawa Posts: 245	impro Hi, Maybe, you should join a improvisation club. It should help. So, the more you pratice your hability to think fast, the more you will improve it. I hope it help. bye Hugo

10-09-2008, 03:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
Dannyboy1 Banned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New York Posts: 1,246	You answered your own question in the question... How do you think faster? Thinking is the problem. The key to being good at improv is to be able to be in flow and NOT think. Thinking is what slows you down and causes to second guess yourself. Have you ever been hanging out with a friend or group of friends and just riffed? You kept them laughing for a few minutes...? Think back. Were you thinking then? Nope. You were going off the top of your head. Thinking KILLS improvisation.

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10-09-2008, 12:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
smartile Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 426	Hi BlackWigger, You could try getting into alot of trouble at school or at work. I find that the more times I'm in trouble, the faster I think; so I can get out of trouble.

10-09-2008, 02:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
ThoughtAddict Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 727	Smartile's on to something, but it may not be advisable to get into trouble. Improvisational, on-the-spot speaking helped me. The adrenaline of being on the spot simulated the feeling of being in trouble, without all the negative consequences. If you're in college, look into a mock trial program or improvisational theater.

10-09-2008, 03:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
xeo Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 8	In addition to what was said above, try exercising (lifting or running) if you don't already. I've noticed it helps with my mental clarity and allows me to be quick on my feet.

10-09-2008, 03:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
Dagan Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 53	reading alot of books as well always helps, use quotes that you like in everyday sentances start writing your own quotes as well... this will promote more of this type of though allowing you to thing faster on your feet and also pull quotes and facts out of thin air... also if your pationate about something have a conversation about this with someone who is also passionate may be with the same beliefs or different (different usually will promote better conversations).

10-09-2008, 06:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
Elrond Retired Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,112	Trust your intuition and its ability to bring to you the right thoughts at the right times. Whenever I am witty or funny, it is not because I think about "what can I say now? What can a retort be to that?" It often just comes to me. Actually, it seems like trying to force it makes it harder.

10-09-2008, 07:09 AM	#9 (permalink)
Throwback24 Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 56	I'm encountering the same problem, I always end up saying/doing something stupid under pressure when normally I'd do the opposite. Pressure bursts my pipes

10-09-2008, 02:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
Brutha Family Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Berlin, Germany Posts: 8,749	I think it's about practice. To have practice you have to be willing to fail and to say stupid things.

10-10-2008, 04:58 PM	#14 (permalink)
Marth Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 284	Thanks for posting this, I had a similar question. I tend to over-think decisions which makes my reaction time slower, I will also try these methods thank you guys.

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums