Intro
It's easy to underestimate just how much clarity is worth. I know I certainly do that almost every day. I recently read a story, however, that reminded me just how valuable clarity is. It's a powerful tale from Josh Waitzkin's The Art of Learning, related to Josh on a trip to the Amazon, and presented in his book. Below is a condensed version, and the lesson we can take from it.
The Story
Waitzkin's tale is about Jose, a hunter in the Amazon jungle. Jose was experienced in his work, a man who seemed ready for anything. One night he was returning from a hunt, a kill slung over his back, when his instincts picked something up. He stopped, listened, and heard the rumble of a big cat out in the darkness.
Jose checked the pouch of poisoned darts for his blowgun - empty. He pulled out his machete, set himself with a tree a few feet behind him, and began swinging his weapon in a complex pattern in front of him, ready to ward off the dangerous beast. He had set aside his fear, and taken each action quickly but deliberately. He was ready.
A moment later the cat leaped down from the trees. A massive black panther, it began to prowl in front of him, watching through great yellow eyes. Jose watched it back, his mind racing through the possibilities, through what might happen, what he might do. He tenser, prepared to make a quick dodge and swing when the cat attacked.
The cat, however, just paced, back and forth in front of him. It waited. And as it waited, Jose's fear returned. The tension which had kept him alive turned on him, and he panicked. He stepped back, showing fear and letting the panther move forward. It crouched to leap, and Jose, knowing he had made a grave mistake, gave up.
A gunshot rang out, however, and the cat paused, turned, and ran. Jose had banged his machete against the roots of a tree in those first clear moments, before he panicked, and his friends had heard. They saved his life. In a way he had saved his life.
The Moral
What does this story have to teach us? Waitzkin says that "in every discipline, the ability to be clearheaded, present, cool under fire is what separates the best from the mediocre." I think there's something similar but not identical, and slightly more important, to take away.
Clarity in thought leads to clarity in action.
Jose's thoughts lost clarity. His tension and fear confused him, and that confusion quickly turned into crucial errors in his actions. Errors that nearly cost Jose his life.
Even when we are not in a fight for our lives, or even a direct competition, this truth remains. Clear thought leads to effective action, muddy thought leads to error.
At work, I doubt you have to imagine the scenarios where this is the case. We've all acted without clarity, most of us more than once. Whether it was miscommunication or hastiness that caused an issue, the real cause is nearly always lack of clarity.
This issue not only can, not only will, but already is damaging your life. And, like Jose, you're probably letting it push you towards giving up. Not on your life, but on your dreams, ambitions, or aspirations. Whether it's a new language or a new job, odds are that lack of clarity is costing you big.
Tips and Tricks
Don't worry though! Now that you know the issue, we can give you some tips to beat it. Muddy thinking doesn't have to be chronic. Here they are:
Tip #1: Always get it in writing. The oh-so-important adage of contracts also applies to yourself. Writing something down, making it concrete, will always make it more real, more clear, and more permanent. Just as you thought you knew what your boss wanted (but then didn't), you think you know what you want out of your workout plan. Take the time to write it down and check.
Odds are, something is different than you realized. Your thoughts weren't fully coherent. The left lobe didn't know what the right lobe was doing, and sometimes that difference, unfortunately, is all the difference. All the difference needed to ruin a good plan and smash a goal into the ground.
Tip #2: Take a step back. Sometimes the difference between success and failure is stepping out of your own shoes, even if you're not stepping into someone else's. Pause, breath deep, and look back at your plan, your goal, your idea. Step outside your head and view it from there, as the product of a mind, not the product of your mind.
Behind your own two eyes is where the fog is densest, unfortunately. If you only look from there, you'll never see clearly.
Tip #3: Use tools. Don't ignore those who want to help you. No tool is magic, but plenty of tools will help you do what you need to.
Scribe, of course, is the tool we'll mention here. Our whole goal with it is to promote clear thinking, to help you most fully realize yourself with AI, instead of replacing yourself. The questions, pushback, and suggestions it gives are indispensable when searching for clarity.
This is why we can keep recommending scribe. We know the damage a lack of clarity can do, and we're looking to solve that issue, for ourselves and for you.
Final Notes
Don't wait to put this into action: go act. It's important to realize that seeking clarity usually starts with an action - thought is rarely enough. Go outside. Take a walk. Call scribe. Start meditating. All these things naturally lead to greater clarity, which will in turn make you realize what you were missing, and do them more.
Clarify your thoughts, change your life.