Developing an Extravagant Mind – Intentional Thinking

EDITOR: Somewhere along the way, many of us stopped choosing our thoughts and started living inside them. Life happened, responsibilities increased, disappointments came, and before we knew it, certain ways of thinking became familiar. Not because they were right, but because they were repeated. Intentional thinking is about taking that choice back. The mind does not stay still. It is shaped daily by what we tell ourselves, what we listen to, and what we quietly accept as “just the way things are”. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, we are known for resilience. We adjust, we manage, we push through. But intentional thinking asks us to do more than cope. It invites us to grow with purpose.

An extravagant mind does not accept every thought as truth. When the mind says, “Nothing will change,” intentional thinking asks, “What can I change within my reach?”

When it whispers, “I’m too old, too late, too far behind,” the mind responds, “What step can I take today?” These small questions keep the mind moving instead of stuck. This kind of thinking is practical. For a student, it may mean choosing effort over embarrassment and asking for help. For a parent, it may mean changing how they speak to themselves during stress. For an older adult, it may mean realising that growth does not end because a season has changed. The mind remains alive as long as it is engaged.

One simple way to practice intentional thinking is to pay attention to language. The way we speak to ourselves matters. “I’m overwhelmed” can become “I’ll take this one step at a time.” That shift does not remove pressure, but it restores control. Another practice is being careful about what feeds the mind. In many communities, negativity spreads quickly. An extravagant mind learns to limit constant complaining, hopeless talk, and fear-driven narratives. It chooses conversations and ideas that encourage responsibility, creativity, and hope.

Intentional thinking is not loud. It is quiet, steady work. Day by day, it shapes how we respond, how we plan, and how we see ourselves. Developing an extravagant mind means understanding that time will shape our thinking whether we choose it or not. Intentional thinking simply allows us to decide how.

Kevan Glasgow