BLoW

Living in a democratic system gives us an underrated right: to think freely and speak our minds. It’s not something we should take for granted.

With tech’s rapid rise, we’re hit with more information than ever, making it hard to sort through the shit. A surprising amount is just misinformation—propaganda driven by AI bots, algorithms, and hidden agendas.

That’s why we believe independent thinking is more essential than ever. We need to sharpen our ability to see through the bullshit, to think better. And that’s where we come in.

Think of independent thinking as a muscle. And we’ve designed our very own training regimen just for it.

Don’t Skip Leg Day: Build Your Foundation with Critical Thinking

It’s not about questioning everything—just the right things. To think for ourselves, we need to identify our pet peeves and go-to’s (our biases), understand the rhetoric we pick up unconsciously, and closely examine it. Following the crowd isn’t bad—research shows the “wisdom of the crowd” often beats individual guesses. But here’s the real question: do you agree with the majority because it’s your firm belief, or because it’s easier to echo everyone else?

If you’re unsure, it’s time for some mental training. When you come across new information or an opinion, ask yourself:

• What is the person actually saying?
• What conclusions can I draw from it?
• How do I know it is the truth?
• Why is it important?
• What difference might knowing about it make to my life?

By asking the right questions and reflect on the information given to us, it’s easier to figure out what we know and what we don’t know – and we usually don’t know much. And remember: practice makes perfect. Find 10 minutes every day to examine something with these simple questions, and you’ll go from easily swayed to bulletproof independent thinker in no time!

Beach Brain 2025, here we come!

Not much is new under the sun. History is full of great thinkers who laid the foundations of independent thought. But in our rush to keep up with the new, we often forget them. Think stoicism is a new trend cooked up by LA lifestyle gurus? Understandable, but it actually dates back to ancient Greece, around 300 BCE.

We’re bringing philosophy and psychology down to earth—no academic bullshit, no pretentious posturing. We’ll hand you practical ideas from the past to challenge your brain and get it in shape for Beach Brain 2025.

First out is a hardcore exercise invented by the greek philosopher Socrates. It is called “the dialogue”, it is not for the faint of heart and you’ll need a training buddy.

What to do:

• Sit down comfortably or go for a walk. Either works.
• Talk to your friend. This exercise require some warm-up so start simple with things like: “Hey!”, “How are you?”, “What’s up?”.
• When you’ve done your warm-up it’s time for some action. Maybe your friend says something that surprises you, or some dumb shit that you haven’t heard before, or you might agree with everything they say – after all it’s your friend. This is an excellent time to start practicing. When your friend is making a statement, like “Penguins eat their young“*, instead of going for your knee jerk reaction – say “Interesting, how do you know that?” or “Hu, who told you this?” or “Where can I learn more about this before unheard of behaviour in penguins?“.
• Repeat the exercise using a variety of questions until either you or your friend is tired, whatever comes first.
• Remember to cool-down with some random conversation about what you did over the weekend or when you’re going to exercise together again.

Flex Your Core with Creativity

At the top of the independent thinking pyramid are creativity and innovation.

Innovation is the pinnacle of independent thought, deeply linked with creativity. We need people to imagine and create—and there’s nothing more original than connecting your own unique ideas.

By practicing creative thinking and innovation, you’ll emerge as the one-of-a-kind butterfly you were always meant to be. Who knows—you might even contribute something new to the world.

Here’s a way to practice it:

• You need a piece of paper and a pen (yeah the old school writing stuff of legends)
• Think of an ordinary paper clip
• In two minutes (clock yourself, no cheating) write down as many ways you can think of to use the paper clip other than holding papers together
• Done

A Well-Rounded Workout

Building a sharper mind should be fun, straightforward, and accessible to everyone. We all have a brain, so let’s make the most of it. It’s really not that hard.

In your everyday life, pause for a moment and ask yourself: why am I thinking this way? Explore alternatives. Listen to those who see things differently—it builds mental stamina. Strengthen your arguments, not by raising your voice, but by genuinely understanding the other person’s perspective. It will make you stronger. And don’t be afraid to reach for the unimaginable; it will increase your flexibility—and it’s fun.

And here it is, your training regimen for independent thinking:

• Foundations of Critical Thinking: Start by questioning the right things and identifying the biases that cloud your judgment.
• Mental Core Strength: Discover timeless concepts from philosophy and psychology to add depth to your thinking.
• Creative Flexibility: Practice exercises that boost creativity, helping you to form new connections and original ideas.
• Reflect and Refine: Regular self-checks to ensure your thoughts remain yours—not borrowed from the crowd.

Train, explore, and experiment—because independent thinking isn’t just a skill; it’s a way of life.

*And just so you know: penguins don’t actually eat their young. Cannibalism is an anomaly amongst penguins and anyone who’s claiming something else is wrong.

If you want to dig deeper into this topic we have a podcast episode just for you. You can find it here.

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And if you want to help us build a movement of independent thinkers we would very much appreciate your support.