for ele

linear thinking
Part of Speech: n
Definition:
a process of thought following known cycles or step-by-step progression where a response to a step must be elicited before another step is taken

while i breifly tried to find a definition of non linear, i could not find one that suited my idea of non linear. but i think of it as being able to think about things in a circle rather than a straight line. i think that over simplifies it but i visualize it like this- there are 2 ways to take notes in a class. the linear thinker will do it in a fashion similar to what we have all been taught- idea 1, a. b. c. etc all in a line down the paper like an outline. non linear starts with the main concept in the center of the page circles it and then draws lines from the main concept to attach all the related ideas. in different colors. flying around all over the page but making perfect sense to them. too bad i dont still have my psych notebook. it wasn't exactly like this but similar. some day i will draw and photograph exactly what i mean. i wish i had known about this idea back in high school. it would have been so much better. but i think i am stuck somewhere in the middle. i like step by step but my step by steps have a lot of hidden staircases branching off- sometimes to somewhere and sometimes to no where.
maybe like this:
linear- first, do the dishes then wipe the table and counters next clean the stove then sweep and mop then move to the next room.
non linear- well maybe i will start the wash then start the dishes but while i am washing the dishes, i will take a break and pick up some toys and then i will switch teh wash and go back to the dishes. maybe next i will take out the trash and then finish the dishes and then scrub the tub..etc
either way, the job gets done but one will probably make the other crazy.
still not a perfect definiton of either but a place to start.