1 The power of abstract thinking Domina Petric, MD ABSTRACT Abstract thinking is the ability to understand concepts that are real, but which are not directly tied to concrete physical objects and experiences. Abstract thinking must be complementary with reality. Reality is neither completely bitter (black, black glasses, pessimism) nor completely sweet (pink, pink glasses, unreal naive optimism), but rather bitterly sweet (a mixture of all colors, realistic optimism). Therefore, healthy abstract thinking is like drinking bitterly sweet coffee. It is like wearing dioptric glasses (realistic optimism). INTRODUCTION Abstract thinking is the ability to understand concepts that are real, such as freedom or vulnerability, but which are not directly tied to concrete physical objects and experiences. It is the ability to absorb information from our senses and make connections to the wider world. Abstract thinking is considered a higher- order reasoning skill that is used when creating things, speaking figuratively, solving problems, understanding concepts, analyzing situations, forming theories and putting things in perspective 1 . Imagination is a type of abstract thinking that can be defined as the ability to produce and stimulate novel objects, people and ideas in the mind without any immediate input of the senses. It is also described as the forming of experiences in the mind, which can be re- creations of past experiences such as vivid memories with imagined changes, or they can be completely invented and possibly fantastic scenes 2 .