Nomix - Blog #skillNomix - Blog #skillhttps://nomix.co.za/blogs/tag/skillFri, 20 Mar 2026 22:46:48 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Freedom of Thinking or Conformity - Part 2]]>https://nomix.co.za/blogs/post/freedom-of-thinking-or-conformity-part-2“ But just think how it would be if everyone else looked at things as you do – what would the world be like? ” ―  F. Scott Fitzgerald Let’s look at co ]]>
“But just think how it would be if everyone else looked at things as you do – what would the world be like?”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald

Introduction

Let’s look at conformity thinking again: Thinking conformity can happen when people change their opinions to align with the majority opinion of a group. It occurs when people are influenced by the beliefs or behaviors of others and feel pressure to conform to the group’s standards. This can be seen in many aspects of life, such as fashion trends, political opinions, and social norms. People may conform to the group’s opinion because they want to fit in and be accepted, or because they fear being rejected if they don’t. Thinking conformity can lead to a lack of creativity and critical thinking, as well as a lack of individualism.
We have amazing brains. We can change any pattern, behaviour, or habit, as long as we take decisive action. Why? The brain is malleable – malleability of the brain refers to its ability to change, grow and adapt in response to new experiences and learning, as well as making a decision to change. This process is also known as neuroplasticity. It means that the brain can rewire itself in response to stimuli, leading to changes in behavior and cognition.
This malleability is due to the presence of dendrites and axons, which are structures that allow neurons to form new connections and re-arrange existing ones. The formation of new neural connections and changes in the strength of existing ones underlie the process of learning and memory.
Overall, the malleability of the brain is a critical component of our ability to learn and adapt to new environments, which is essential for our survival and success in life.

The Courage to Change Your Thinking

Even though our brains are wired for change, it takes courage to break the cycle of unwanted thinking habits and to start thinking differently! It is an important part of your personal development and allows you to explore your own thoughts and beliefs; challenging limited believes and negative thoughts; embracing new experiences and perspectives and cultivating positive habits and attitudes.
The quality of your thoughts can have a significant impact on the quality of your life. Practicing mindfulness and creative thinking can help to reshape the neural pathways in your brain and improve your overall well-being. Additionally, engaging in activities that promote neuroplasticity, such as learning new skills or practicing meditation, can also help to change the structure and function of your brain.

Taking Control of Your Thinking

Your thinking is the essence of who you are. It is therefore important to identify your way of thinking, to identify any forms of negative or closed thinking in order to change your thinking – and in so doing to change your strategies, business, your futures, and your life.
Once you allow constant negative thinking to take hold in your life, your thinking becomes conditioned and boxed in. You begin to respond in this conditioned way towards specific experiences, people, ideas and change – until the process intensifies and you think and act negatively towards everything. Dr Kobus Neethling, President of the SA Creativity Foundation, calls it ‘Below the line thinking’ and says it makes us defensive, full of resentment and irrational. By thinking (and therefore living!) below the line, you lock in your power and energy instead of setting it free in order to reach your full potential and to fly.
To develop into a creative PERSON you need to take responsibility for your thinking.

Coming Forth Into the Light

I was born the day
I thought:
What is?
What was?
And
What if?
I was transformed the day
My ego shattered,
And all the superficial, material
Things that mattered
To me before,
Suddenly ceased
To matter.
I really came into being
The day I no longer cared about
What the world thought of me,
Only on my thoughts for
Changing the world.
― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem
Marita Durr
CEO — Applied Creativity. Neethling Brain Institute NBI® Whole Brain Trainer
]]>Fri, 05 May 2023 10:27:07 +0200<![CDATA[Freedom of Thinking or Conformity]]>https://nomix.co.za/blogs/post/freedom-of-thinking-or-conformityIt is not that easy to look at our thinking objectively. Negative thinking patterns can develop without us realising it and can add unnecessary stress and anxiety to our lives. What is important, is to realise that we don't have to be a slave to old and negative thinking patterns.]]>
“We are addicted to our thoughts. We cannot change anything if we cannot change our thinking.”
― Santosh Kalwar

Introduction

It is not that easy to look at our thinking objectively. The brain is an amazing organ that has the capacity to constantly make new connections and take us to new heights - if we have the desire, but on the other hand, the brain is constantly looking for patterns and if you keep on repeating thinking patterns, it will keep you there without you even realising it. This is not all bad – habits free us from thousands of small decisions we don’t have to make on a daily basis – how to brush our teeth, make a cup of tea, run a bath, etc. These decisions are habitual, effortless. At the same time, the brain’s dependence on automatic routines or habitual thinking patterns, can be dangerous. It can be as much a curse as a benefit.
Negative thinking patterns add unnecessary stress and anxiety to our lives. In his book Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, Dr. David Burns outlines common cognitive disorders such as:
  • All-or-Nothing Thinking:
    • Thinking in terms of black or white, or in extremes. 
  • Overgeneralization:
    • Inaccurately concluding that one unpleasant experience will lead to a negative future filled with many more of them.
  • Magnification (or Catastrophizing):
    • Exaggerating negative details of an event and overemphasizing your own imperfections and fears, making things into a much bigger deal than they actually are.
  • Emotional Reasoning:
    • Believing that how you feel accurately represents the truth of your reality.
  • Using 'Should statements': 
    • Using the word 'should' to motivate behavior when it ultimately leave you feeling pressured and frustrated.
  • We can add overthinking as a negative thinking pattern as well.
Some of you may be facing work and career requirements, where if you want to stay in a certain role or be promoted or become a manager, your company may require you to get a degree. This is great when you also want to get a degree and see that the career path ahead of you is what you want. This is even better if your boss and company are prepared to support you in getting your degree, and you can negotiate for support, accountability by adding this to your personal development KPI or apply for funding and study leave. Some companies go further, and put together groups of employees and work with higher education providers to provide a programme that fits your context. This can be a double-edged sword if your company expects you to study for a degree but won’t give you time to write exams or support your studies at all. So start a conversation with your manager or HR about what can and won’t happen. Ask to talk to people in the company who are currently studying to see if the support is real or conditional.

The Power of Changed Thinking

According to the Oxford Dictionaries, 'Thinking' can be defined as "the process of considering or reasoning about something". Or according to the APA (American Psychological Association) Dictionary of Psychology: "Cognitive behaviour in which ideas, images, mental representations, or other hypothetical elements of thought are experienced or manipulated. In this sense, thinking includes imagining, remembering, problem solving, daydreaming, free association, concept formation, and many other processes."
The human brain thinks in a number of distinct ways which can be deliberately tested and challenged, and therefore trained for use in a structured way, allowing us to develop new ways for thinking about particular issues. Research shows that differences in the physical connections of the brain are at the root of what make people think and behave differently from one another. Researchers have mapped the exact brain regions where individual differences occur. Their findings reveal that individuals' brain connectivity varies more in areas that relate to integrating information than in areas for initial perception of the world.
According to Kobus Neethling, founder and president of the South African Creativity Foundation, it has always been accepted that thinking can develop spontaneously because of environmental factors, mentor relationships and countless other stimuli. It is also true that the use of creative and whole brain techniques can ignite exceptional performance. It all starts with understanding your own thinking preferences.
What is important, is to realise that you don’t have to be a slave to old and negative thinking patterns. You can change your thinking! Conformity to what is generally accepted as the truth as spread by social media without challenging it, is not the way to go – it leads to stereotyped, distorted thinking. AND - thinking directly affects your emotions.

How to Change Your Thinking

You are in control and can change these patterns by following these simple steps:

Four Easy Steps to Change Your Thinking 

  • Identify your negative / distorted thinking patterns: Keep a journal and write the negative thoughts down – it will help you becoming more aware of your thinking.
  • Challenge your thinking: It is important to challenge your thoughts - not all thoughts are true! Is this really the truth? Take a step back and assess the negative thought.
  • Change your inner talk: Rephrase your thinking to make it positive, real, compassionate, hopeful. Write it down next to the negative thought.
  • Keep on doing this for at least 27 days to create new thinking patterns.

Conclusion

We can train our minds to change our brains. The quality of your thoughts has a direct impact on the quality of your life. So, if you want to live a fulfilling and meaningful life, start by paying attention to the things you think about every day.

References

Sophia Mueller, Danhong Wang, Michael D. Fox, B.T. Thomas Yeo, Jorge Sepulcre, Mert R. Sabuncu, Rebecca Shafee, Jie Lu, Hesheng Liu. Individual Variability in Functional Connectivity Architecture of the Human Brain. Neuron, 2013; 77 (3): 586 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.12.028

Marita Durr
CEO — Applied Creativity. Neethling Brain Institute NBI® Whole Brain Trainer
]]>Fri, 25 Nov 2022 15:10:20 +0200<![CDATA[Creativity: A Future Skill Now]]>https://nomix.co.za/blogs/post/creativity-a-future-skill-nowPursue any article regarding the most desired skills for the future and you will find that creativity consistently ranks within the top five skills. S ]]>

Be a Front Runner!

Pursue any article regarding the most desired skills for the future and you will find that creativity consistently ranks within the top five skills. Several authors may refer to aspects such as problem-solving or innovative thinking, however, these are a derivate from the much larger creativity umbrella. Companies such as Toyota are preferring to employ people above machines in certain areas of their factories as humans can propose ideas for improvement that signifies the need for creative solutions to unique challenges.


One may contemplate and ask; “If the creative skill is so important, why was it not part of my upbringing?” A possible answer to this question may be that in times where change is trending towards a greater need for such competencies in the workplace, education systems battle to keep up with adding such soft-skills to their curriculums. Until now, creativity has been somewhat of a mysterious topic condemned to statements such as: “I simply wasn’t born creative”, or even more degrading, “I’m not artistic enough to be creative”. These indifferent misconceptions are on the verge of being eliminated as more and more people come to realise that creativity is an entirely relevant topic and competence that can be acquired through learning and practising.

Become a front-runner!  Start developing yourself today as a master of this art by becoming a scholar and creativity practitioner. 
Dr Pieter du Toit
Specialisation: Change Management, Aviation Management, Business Management, Human Resources, Coaching and Business Leadership
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