by 
Independent thinking is the ability to think freely without being influenced by stereotypes, public opinion or pressure from loved ones. This skill allows you to make truly informed decisions and base them on your own value system.
Instead of following someone else's advice or imposed stereotypes, you choose yourself, your needs and desires, thus improving the quality of life.
Not everyone is ready to develop the skill of independent thinking. First of all, because it requires active action. If you sincerely want to free yourself from external pressure, you will have to change your habits and make a number of difficult decisions.
You should start with the following actions.
Rely on your feelings
Do not underestimate your intuition. In some cases, it can guide you in making important decisions. When you don't have enough information or your thoughts are at odds with other people's opinions, you can turn to your gut feelings. It is your intuition that will help you to rely primarily on your own wants and needs.
Trusting your gut feelings takes practice. Start small: when you are faced with a choice, take some time to slow down and evaluate which option feels right to you. Gradually, you'll learn to listen to yourself and better understand your aspirations.
It is important to remember that intuition does not replace objective analysis of the situation, but only supplements the decision-making process, making it more personalized.
Don't take someone else's statements as the truth
Remember: not everything you hear or read is true. Even if the information comes from an entity that many people believe to be trustworthy. It's important for you to learn to question and critically evaluate everything that comes to your attention. Develop skepticism - it's good to question the data that reaches you.
Before you accept someone else's opinion as truth, try to find out the context, trace the premise of the statement, and find the sources of the information the person is relying on. When doing so, it is important to evaluate the authority of the sources. Take the time to analyze to learn how to distinguish facts from value judgments. This approach will allow you to avoid falling under someone else's manipulation.
Explore multiple opinions and viewpoints
A broad outlook is a prerequisite for independent thinking. By studying different points of view, you get an opportunity to look at familiar things in a new way and expand the boundaries of your perception of the world. When checking information, don't limit yourself to one source of information, try to study several opinions at once.
Discuss what you have learned and rethink with people who hold different beliefs. This will not only help you become more familiar with different approaches and theories, but also help you develop the ability to find arguments to support your point of view.
Practice critical thinking
Critical thinking involves the ability to analyze information, ask the right questions, and draw conclusions based on objective data. Begin to question established opinions and seek alternative viewpoints.
Reading scientific articles and analyzing the news will help you develop critical thinking. Keep in mind that a crucial part of this process is the ability to distinguish facts from opinions and draw your own conclusions based on logical thinking, not just emotion or preconceived beliefs.
Spend time alone on a regular basis
In your daily routine, there is a lot of communication and a huge flow of information - as a result, you may often not have time for reflection and self-knowledge. Try to set aside at least half an hour or an hour to be alone with yourself. This habit allows you to concentrate on your thoughts, to separate them from imposed opinions and stereotypes.
In silence and solitude you can explore personal ideas, dreams and goals, make important decisions, weighing the pros and cons. Make such practices regular if you really want to learn to think independently.
Analyze your own prejudices and stereotypes
Each of us has our own set of prejudices and stereotypes that are shaped throughout our lives by society, culture and personal experience.
In order to think independently, you need to learn to find and analyze these patterns. Ask yourself questions about the true nature of your beliefs. Just make sure you answer honestly - sometimes admitting to yourself that what you believed is not true is extremely painful.
Stereotypes have a huge impact on your decisions and your overall perception of the world. If you're looking to broaden your horizons and escape the pressures of the world, you need to learn how to challenge your preconceptions.
Expand your knowledge and experience
The constant pursuit of new knowledge and experience is a great opportunity to free yourself from imposed frameworks and false beliefs.
Reading books, studying scientific articles, participating in training courses and seminars will help you build a rich database that will serve as a basis for evaluating new information. Don't limit yourself to one area of knowledge - explore different disciplines and approaches. Traveling and meeting new people will also enrich your experience and give you the opportunity to look at many things from different perspectives.
Participate in discussions with people who have different views
Stop avoiding conversations with those who have a different point of view and yet can convey it calmly with arguments. Constructive dialogue with different people will help you develop the ability to analyze information, look for weaknesses and strengths in arguments, defend your position or even correct it if necessary.
This approach to communication will not only broaden your worldview, but also strengthen your ability to respect other people's opinions and experiences. Eventually you'll realize that you don't have to change someone's mind about something. People can have different perspectives and perceptions of a situation, and opposing views are not mutually exclusive.
by 