If I asked you to envision a deep thinker in your mind’s eye, who springs to mind? Do you see a Stoic philosopher draped in a toga? Or perhaps a Renaissance writer with a quill pen in hand?
There have been countless deep thinkers from around the world over the years, of various walks of life.
Although they may have many personal differences, they also share a number of qualities. And those qualities allow these individuals to hold multiple complex thoughts at the same time, consider the situation (and their responses) carefully, and weave wisdom into their various words and actions. Here’s how:
1. They have creative critical thinking skills.
While many people will look at situations at face value, especially those involving conflict, deep thinkers are far more discerning in their observations.
They won’t just look at the bigger picture to determine where this conflict came from, but will also approach the situation creatively.
For example, they might consider things like environmental factors or health conditions that may be contributing to a person’s elevated irritability or confusion, instead of just labelling them as unreasonable because they picked a fight with Sheila from HR.
These critical thinking skills also grant them the emotional intelligence to determine what should or shouldn’t be said in any given situation. Or, in simpler terms, they’re experts at “reading the room.”
They know that some things will de-escalate the conflict and encourage harmony, while others will be like throwing flour into a burning building.
2. They take their time to respond.
Deep thinkers never feel rushed to respond when asked a question. Instead, they take their time to consider what was asked, and then determine what they’ll say.
Furthermore, they don’t rush through their answers. Think of the late, great Christopher Lee, who spoke in a disciplined and measured rhythm.
He not only thought deeply about what he said, but also how he said it. His discourse wasn’t an erratic mess, where a person seems to say every word that’s in their head before actually getting to the point, but was instead a careful give-and-take of civilized exchange.
Deep thinkers speak with intention. They are not emotionless, but they work hard to pause and choose their words carefully, so that their response reflects the deep thought they’ve put into it.
3. They choose observation over action.
Deep thinkers prefer to look before they leap in any given scenario. As such, they generally analyze situations thoroughly before doing anything.
In fact, they can sometimes be accused of being overly cautious or prudent. Others tell them that they shouldn’t think about things so much because everything will be just fine.
To a deep thinker, this behavior seems very careless and is asking for more trouble and problems down the road.
Personally speaking, I can’t tell you how many times people have berated or even mocked me for being overly cautious or not taking action quickly enough. But often those same people have ended up calling me to help them out when they’ve gotten into trouble for not thinking things through.
4. They pay careful attention rather than simply waiting to speak.
A deep thinker doesn’t just listen to the words a person says: they also pay attention to what isn’t being said.
For example, they’ll listen to the tone and cadence of a person’s speech, where their eyes keep turning towards, which topics they patently avoid, what they end up repeating, and so on.
Rather than simply waiting for their turn to speak, they’re completely focused on what’s being said to them, what’s being shown, and importantly, the context around it.
By paying full attention to their conversational companion, they can best determine how to respond. What’s more, what they want to say is irrelevant: they’ll say what needs to be said instead.
5. They use logic and analysis rather than being influenced by emotions.
A person who thinks deeply may also feel deeply, but they do their best not to allow their feelings to unduly influence their judgment or their behavior.
They recognize that there are many different perspectives beyond their own, and attachment to their view may blind them to other, valid opinions.
This doesn’t mean that they don’t feel strongly about things, or that feeling strongly is wrong. They may feel deeply about the topic at hand, and have strong opinions about it as well. But they balance their feelings with outside perspective and logic when it comes to judging and decision-making.
6. They learn from all directions to expand their knowledge wells.
Rather than simply drawing from one source of information to educate themselves on a topic, they endeavor to learn from as many different sources as possible.
This prevents the echo chamber effect in which a person only reads or listens to ideas that they already agree with.
These deep thinkers will draw on techniques and viewpoints from many different cultures in order to determine the best answer or course of action.
This grants them complex understanding from multiple directions. It also allows them to consider what underlying motivations or issues may be, and thereby consider what approach may serve the issue most effectively.
7. They can separate their ego from the subject at hand.
To a deep thinker, thoughts and emotions are two separate towers. Both are important, but when someone disagrees with a fundamental concept or belief that a deep thinker holds, they won’t feel personally attacked by that disagreement.
This is because they fully recognize the difference between personal truths and universal truths.
Just because they believe in something fervently, that doesn’t mean that everyone else does too. Nor do they need to.
Deep thinkers are far more interested in learning more about others and what they think and feel than they are in trying to win others over to their side, so to speak. They don’t need other people to believe the same things they do.
As a result, they appreciate intelligent discourse rather than being reactionary and defensive in the face of perspectives that differ from their own.
8. In a heated debate, they remain reasoned and articulate.
You’ve probably noticed that a lot of people get rather belligerent during arguments.
Instead of discussing the subject calmly and rationally, they default to simply yelling the same thing repeatedly — at increasing volume — in an attempt to shout down those who disagree with them.
You’ll often see this on social media, where someone will post something in all caps, repeated several times over, as though by doing so they’re changing something fundamental in other people’s realities.
Deep thinkers don’t behave in this manner. Instead, they work hard to maintain a sense of calm dignity and offer reasoned, articulate responses.
When and if someone starts barking at them in an attempt to wear them down, they’ll often remain silent for several seconds, and then continue the discussion as if they hadn’t been interrupted.
And should the screamer intensify their verbal assault, the conversation will be terminated.
Final thoughts…
It’s not uncommon for deep thinkers to be dismissed by those around them for being too serious, too cautious, too reserved, etc.
Yet without people who think deeply, we wouldn’t have philosophy, psychology, or some of the greatest books and films that have ever inspired us.
Wisdom and objectivity are what allow real justice to take place, as well as equity and benevolence.
While it may be easier not to think too deeply and to keep things light and fun all the time, it’s by thinking deeply that things of true meaning can often come to pass.
