To make good decisions, to judge between well-balanced options, even to know what we want, we need to learn how to think objectively, and this may involve retraining your brain, to a certain degree. There are many well-established patterns of thought that work against objectivity - for instance, we tend to give added weight to information that confirms what we already believe, or we choose to 'stick' rather than 'twist in a range of situations, because our fear of losing is greater than our desire to win. Equally, the urge to conform can sometimes be an almost irresistible influence that works against our interests; our emotions are a powerful force in our thinking, and they need to be recognized and managed. We may even feel, from time to time, that we don't really know what drives us to make a specific decision, or why we think in a particular way. To learn how to think objectively we have to be able to focus on the evidence, weigh up alternatives, see connections quickly and clearly - and avoid being distracted by subjective concerns such as our desire to be right or to fit in with others, or our fear of causing offence. Objective thinking opens a pathway to self-reliance and independence of mind. Use these 50 puzzles for objective thinking to foster mental clarity, attention to detail, coolness in a crisis, speed of connections and sharpness of thought.