Knowledge = (Capability × Creativity) / (Overwhelm & Disorientation × Fear & Doubt) = Power

For me, the most important parts are to increase my capablity and decrease my doubt.


Overwhelm & Disorientation means lack of clarity

to decrease them:

  • Do something different. Move somewhere else.
  • Go for a walk, go to the bathroom, brush your teeth.
  • Ping a friend or family member.
  • Listen to ambient sounds or language-free music.
  • Disconnect from digital devices.
  • Do a brain dump.
  • Do some freewriting and notemaking.

Fear & Doubt means lack of confidence

to decrease them:

  • Find others further along the path you can learn from.
  • Get feedback.
  • Celebrate small wins instead of just plowing forward.
  • Trust in your unique perspective: “You are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You”.
  • Reflect on past successes, not just achievements, but especially the moments you adapted from failure and grew from disappointment (Growth Mindset stuff).
  • Join a supportive group of like-minded individuals.

if lack of capability:

  • Do an Attention Audit to see where you are spending your valuable resource.
  • Cut off some information sources. Add others that are better. << filter sources
  • Engage in continuous learning. Learn from experts.
  • Practice notemaking. << notetaking | my note taking rules
  • Make a list of knowledge skills you want to improve.

if lack of creativity:

  • Do something different. Move somewhere else.
  • Brush your teeth with your opposite hand.
  • Read fiction. Read the classics.
  • Do notemaking to cross-pollinate ideas from different fields or areas of interest.
  • Keep an idea log or journal.
  • Give something a name.
  • Practice notemaking techniques.