Last year I rewatched The Matrix, just before the fourth movie in the franchise was released.
The plot of this 1999 blockbuster centers around humankind being unknowingly trapped inside a simulated reality, the Matrix, invented by machines to keep our minds distracted while they drain our bodies of energy.
In one of the most famous scenes in recent film history, the lead character Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, is offered a chance to find out the truth:
“Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.
This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill, the story ends; you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe.
You take the red pill; you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.
Remember, all I’m offering is the truth, nothing more.”
That scene had me jumping out of my seat screaming: I want the red pill too!
Wanna get Red-Pilled?
In real life, much like in the movie we often don’t know what is true. Although we may be aware of our and other people’s thoughts, actions, and resulting decisions, we seldom question the beliefs and the thought processes that underpin them.
Unlike in the movie, seeing the truth in real life is not as simple as taking a pill.
In real life, there are no pills, only the skill of logical thinking; which takes some effort to acquire and apply. But once we know how to think logically, we do it automatically, much like brushing our teeth or riding a bike… This is why, when you meet people who possess this skill they make it seem effortless. They know the right questions to ask and have the best arguments. They make quick decisions and can come up with countless solutions to any number of problems. They have great ideas, and you just love the way they think.
You’ve probably resigned yourself to the fact they are just born with it, and you wish you could be like them.
The truth is, logical thinking can be learned. It is a process with clear steps and a well-defined how-to; all it takes is practice.
Join us on the next BBIT course
The Thinking Foundations course is a perfect place to learn the skill and practice fluency in logical thinking.
Register for the next course and together we will learn how to uncover the Matrix and think logically!
P.S. This is, by far, my favourite quote from one of our past delegates, about our Black Belt in Thinking (BBIT) course:
“About three-quarters of the way through the course I suddenly had “The Matrix” moment where everything clicked into place and all of a sudden, I felt I had the ability to filter incoming information 10 times quicker than I could do beforehand.”
– D. Rollason
Mirta is a Director of ViAGO Limited, a behavioral science enthusiast, and a mum to three boisterous boys.