Why YSK: A well cultivated critical thinker:
raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely;
gathers and assesses relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards;
thinks openmindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences;
and communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems.
I think mindfulness, which is essentially what you’ve described, also at an emotional level as well, is the most important skill to have. With practice you can become less likely to interact with the world based solely on emotion, especially unwarranted and destructive emotion while always looking to better yourself due to the simple questions you ask every step of the way. I feel it’s key in managing my mental health, and pretty much ever facet of my life.
I think things like this are so simple in theory that we often gloss over them and the attention it deserves.