Strategy Five involves reshaping the individual’s character. In order to do this, the author indicates that the person should focus on one intellectual trait each month. Examples of these traits are: empathy, autonomy and courage amongst others. The goal is to focus on the chosen trait for a month and observing how the individual himself reacts to it. Reactions can be caused by other people’s interaction with the individual and how he or she handles it. For example, if focusing on empathy, the individual might observe how he or she reacts to other people’s way of communicating and if they are harsh or emphatic. If the individual reacts defensively to an uncaring reply by others, then the individual should stop and reflect. By doing this, he or she is analyzing the reaction and can understand his or her way of taking criticism for example. Once the individual is aware of how he or she reacts to this interaction he can then reshape his character.
Strategy Six focuses on dealing with the individual’s egocentrism. Egocentrism is defined by the author as an individual thinking biased in one self’s favor. For example, when situations arise and the individual instinctively tries to think of solutions that will only benefit him or her. The individual should stop and questions himself on how biased his reaction is to the scenario where he is in. The person should, try to think of solutions that don’t immediately benefit him or her, but instead should ponder ideas that might benefit others. By doing this, the person learns to be less egocentric and can analyze things unbiased.
The last strategy is about analyzing group influences in your life. Every individual is part of one group or another as part of the survival process. These groups can and will create pressures or beliefs to influence your decision process. Critical thinking will enable you to discern and think to be able to accept or reject recommendations, criticisms and source values, allowing you...