认知觉醒：差距源于认知能力

“I have found that the fundamental difference between people lies in their cognitive abilities, as cognition influences choice, and choice changes destiny. Therefore, the essence of growth is to make the brains cognition clearer.” This quote is taken from Zhou Lings book "Cognitive Awakening," which is a methodology that helps ordinary people break through their chaotic cognition. Starting with introspection, one can attain self-awareness through the establishment of metacognition, focus, learning, and other thinking patterns. Understanding the power of cognition can help bridge the gap with others and ultimately change oneself.

Author Zhou Ling began to examine herself after her friends accident at the age of 36. She extensively studied knowledge across various social and psychological disciplines, and saw the potential for her own growth. She summarized these thinking patterns and life methodologies into the book "Cognitive Awakening," helping most people with chaotic cognition find their direction and change their lives.

1. Introspect oneself and face anxiety head-on.

Anxiety is a label that everyone in todays society must have. We want too many things, are eager for success, and overlook the hard work and effort behind other peoples successes. We do not have a clear understanding of our own abilities and cognition. As Wang Xiaobo said: "All human suffering is fundamentally anger at ones own helplessness." We should introspect our instincts and nature, reacquaint ourselves with anxiety, which is the default setting for humanity. It is pointless to fight against our nature, we should find ways to understand the mechanism behind it and change ourselves accordingly.

2. Try to break through and take control of the initiative in thinking.

I am a blind "action-oriented person," advocating for doing first and inspiring myself through so-called action. At the same time, facing life choices, I tend to let instinct and nature make decisions, uncertain about which choice is suitable for me, and confused and anxious. Gradually, I began to go with the flow, not thinking about how to regain control of my life, but indulging in the comfort of the present.

It was not until I read Zhou Lings "Cognitive Awakening" that I suddenly woke up with her sentence, "We are born to be helmsmen of our thinking." My chaotic life was due to my never attempting to control my thinking and cognitive style. I receive what the external world gives me, and I even dont want to spend a little time exploring deeper, often leaving myself in a state of ambiguity.

Zhou Ling proposes the concept of "meta-time" in the book: some time has much greater weight than other time, and these times are called meta-time. "Meta-time usually occurs at the node of choice, such as the beginning or end of a thing, a stage or a day. Making good use of these times will greatly optimize the quality of the subsequent time."

Simply put, when facing choices, we should grasp the "meta-time" node, refuse passive entry into the new stage, maintain self-awareness and examine our first reaction, and make a choice only after careful consideration.

Unfortunately, most ordinary people like me waste these critical "meta-times." We dont think clearly before things start, and we do not review them in time after they end. Many opportunities for growth slip away quietly. I hope the sentence, "We are born to be helmsmen of our thinking," can always inspire me to take the initiative to attain self-awareness and overcome natural desires, and be the helmsman of my own thinking.

3. Integrate knowledge with action, and reach new heights in life.

Ordinary people grow wildly based on their instincts and feelings, and whether they can embark on the road of active awakening and scientific growth depends entirely on luck. Living by instinct really isnt what we want. True awakening is an inner desire, to have a long-range perspective, to be patient, to use the power of cognition and time as friends. Integrating knowledge with action, breaking cognitive limitations, and keeping up with ones own action will enable oneself to see more possibilities in life.