The capacity to think is an important tool that helps liberate people from unhappiness. Developing a new inner Parent involves both creative and logical thinking. Creative thinking includes fantasizing about what an ideal inner Parent could be. Logical thinking involves analyzing old parental figures and deciding what and how to add a new inner Parent to the space filled by flawed parents of the past.

One of the important discoveries made within the past few years is that people use the left and right sides of their brain for different kinds of thinking. The right side is more involved with creative holistic thinking and the left with logical, analytical thinking.

Some people do not trust the potential of their creative thinking and exaggerate the value of being logical. They may view creative thinking as being speculative, lacking precision, or as characteristic of dreamers. They often fail to see that their pride in being logical may really be part of a grandiose fantasy they have designed to enhance their own self-esteem.

The opposite can also be true. Some people only pride themselves on their creative thoughts.

They do not see that ignoring their capacities to think logically is likely to lead to a life that is out of balance.

Both kinds of thinking are valuable. When balancing a checkbook, the logical skill of analyzing costs and expenditures is useful. However, a creative form of budgeting might solve fiscal problems or increase potential savings. Some people obviously do this better than others.

Both logical and creative thinking are influenced by genetic inheritance, childhood conditioning, adult experience, and education. Although it is generally agreed that intelligence is partly genetic, it has also been proven that intelligence can be raised or lowered during a life span. This depends on motivation, skills, and opportunities for growth and development.

Yet some scholars, such as Howard Gardner, believe there are different kinds of intelligence. High intelligence in one area may not mean a person is competent in other ways. Someone with high mathematical intelligence may lack the kind of musical intelligence shown by great musicians or lack the spatial capacities of architects or the mental capacities professional athletes draw upon to accomplish great physical feats.

Furthermore, having so-called high intelligence does not mean a person will usually think logically or will develop constructive plans of action or be concerned with the happiness of others. Some very intelligent people are clever crooks! Others ignore the information they gather because it does not agree with a personal bias. Furthermore, logical thinking may be labeled “illogical” if it does not coincide with cultural norms.

Whether thinking is logical or illogical, positive or negative, it can nevertheless be creative. Creativity is expressed when the person puts together objects, facts, ideas, feelings, or behaviors in new ways. Creative thinkers don’t agree with the commonly held belief that if certain things haven’t been done, they can’t be done. They trust themselves to think for themselves and redecide poor decisions made in the past. They certainly don’t agree with the belief that parents have the sole right to determine their children’s future simply because they have done so throughout the years in many cultures.

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