In the previous post I pondered the question of AI and my relation to it. I wrote it almost accidentally, facing a problem that bothered me, I just had to get it out of my head. So I started writing. I began by outlining my thoughts and feelings on the matter with as many details as could add. My goal was to turn the swarming and buzzing mix of unruly thoughts, feelings, and images into a structured story, into something I could reason about.
The very act of processing this disorganised jumble of brain work into an organised stream of thoughts is calming by itself. As an overheated boiler drips extra pressure little by little, my mind was cooling down with every chunk of noisy chaos turned into a clean idea in written text and let go.
With the heat inside going down and the swarm becoming smaller and quieter, it was much easier to observe my thoughts and make sense of my feelings. I continued my writing to reflect on and further explore what I just produced. And I saw that my fears and worries either were exaggerated or had no ground at all. More than that, I learnt something new about myself, my needs, and my habits. I saw what I could improve.
When I finished this exercise my head felt empty and clean, I was calm, relaxed, and ready for the day. The whole experience of going from anxiety to equanimity in a matter of about ten minutes made me wonder if I could generalise this practice to deal with other life intricacies as well. And indeed, decomposing something that our mind can’t hold as a whole is a great way to address whatever it is in your head.
First, recognise the need to work on a problem. Is something bothering you? Is there anything that requires attention that is too big that your mind can’t grasp? Or you have a thought, perhaps, that keeps coming back. Notice it. See it.
Second, get it out, and put it in shape: write it down, draw a picture, a diagram, whatever works for you. Add all the details that you think are necessary. Say it.
I wish I could say “Sorted!” here, but the road is a tad longer. See it. Again. Now, when your issue has a visual form, observe what you just pulled out from your head. It is still there, but now it makes more sense and can be reasoned about.
Sort it. Time to ask questions and reflect. What are the distinguished parts that make up the whole? What concepts and ideas are there, is there fear, desire, confusion, uncertainty, passion, …, ?. Understand each piece. Where does it come from, and what feelings does it create? How real and rational is it? And do you need to do anything about it?
Sorted? Almost there. Now make it all look the way you want it to be, write down or draw the new state, your new strategy, ideas, self-beliefs, and beliefs about the world. Read it back to store the updated concepts in your mind overriding the old ones. Sorted!
Frankly, it might take several iterations before it is truly sorted. But it is worth the time.
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