How to Think More Effectively: A guide to greater productivity, insight and creativity (Work series)

by The School of Life

There is a fundamental distinction to be made between two kinds of thinking: figuring out what we would like to achieve, and working out how to achieve it. Put another way, there is a key difference between strategy on the one hand and execution on the other. Strategy is about determining our overall aims; execution comprises everything that follows once we’ve decided – the practical activities required to put our plans into action.

‘what’s the point of doing this?’

The most profound thoughts we need to grapple with also have the most potential to disturb. If we were to pinpoint them accurately and get clear about their significance, we might need to make some big changes.

1. Imagine, for once, that the truth does not lie outside of you.

6. Learn to catch your own unthought thoughts.

A central problem of our minds is that they tend to throw out thoughts that are vague. They aren’t wrong, so much as imprecise – which means that we don’t have a secure handle on what we truly feel or want and so are unable to steer our lives to accurate and satisfying destinations.

The goal is not to become artists or philosophers, but to do something that accompanies these tasks: to move from woolly first impressions to authentic details; to go from vagueness to focus – and therefore to give ourselves the best chance of reaching what we actually seek.