Many will agree that writing is a great way to organize your thoughts. But the act of writing itself seems to me as a way to chisel the mind into clearer, more structured patterns of thinking.
I think the process of articulating thoughts on paper doesn't just give tangibility to them.
In my view, what it really does is it actively shapes how we think and reason. Consuming generally does the same thing but passively.
As a passionate writer, I often experience this habit of consuming content primarily for what I can create out of it instead of just consuming for its own sake.
I know it is very short sighted, since I'm skipping on all the nuanced pleasures of exploration and jumping straight to extracting material for future writing.
In many cases, this 'writer's lens' limits our scope of experience, since it prevents the consumer from simply being present with the content.
But the positive side is it's helpful in finding meaningful connections and patterns that we may have overlooked had we approached the content passively, without the intention to synthesize and create.
Alternatively, a possible solution is consuming the content multiple times from different lenses.
First as a pure observer, then as an analyst, and finally as a creator.
Logical Structures
In many ways, a multi-layered approach to content consumption mirrors how coherent thoughts actually form in our minds.
They rarely emerge fully formed. When I first encounter an idea, it always seems random and feels like catching glimpses of a larger truth through a foggy window.
But then, this very idea is encountered again and again. Either through writing, active discussion, or deep contemplation. And the fog gradually begins to clear away.
An actual example is hyperlogic. Unfortunately, I haven't had an active discussion about it yet but I've written and contemplated on hyperlogic extensively through personal reflection.
I think thoughts truly become coherent when they're integrated with our existing knowledge framework. That's the moment they assume logical structures that resonate with our broader understanding of the world.
Just Connecting Dots
This may be the place where a writer's habit of seeking connections becomes quite valuable. Through actively looking for ways to link new information with our established understanding, we incorporate them into a stronger, more resilient web of knowledge.
The process reminds me of how crystals form in nature. Molecules need specific conditions and time to arrange themselves into clear, structured patterns that microscopic viewers are always in awe of.
Similarly, thoughts need the right environment and deliberate attention to achieve true coherence. Writing serves as both the catalyst and the structure for this crystallization process.
Since the very act of writing is also the process of thinking itself, although just in a different mode.
Thanks for reading!! Share your thoughts below on the comments.