Linear Problem Solving (In a Complex World)

I've been MIA for the last couple days because I've been working on a few things behind the scenes.

What I want to talk about today is:

Linear, Simple Problem Solving.

I've always been good at problem solving, but it always came with a sense of overwhelm until everything in my brain clicked and then the solution revealed itself to me.

Tiring. Not fun.

Until a couple days ago I had a chat with someone who asked me a very interesting question.

I started running it through my mind. The numbers. The possibilities. The different approaches to the problem. The different perspectives. Etc.

I had my mind running on full throttle.

And he kept guiding me saying, take it one step at a time. Think out loud. Imagine you were a child solving this problem.

Don't think too much.

And I couldn't for the life of me do what he told me.

And I wasn't able to answer the question.

Then...he revealed the answer. And it was SOOOO simple that I facepalmed & cringe so hard.

I then started laughing at how absurd the whole situation was.

A 5 year old child could've figured it out. But I couldn't.

Why? Because I was too complex in my thinking processes. I immediately assumed difficulty. And completely disregarded the possibility of being able to solve the problem simply or lineary.

And then I realized that I had been doing this in MANY areas of my life.

Default Difficulty: HARD

Default Assumption: HARD

So clouded by my own projections that I wouldn't even consider the possibility of simplicity.

Crazy!

But this also taught me that I can, infact, introduce Simpler, More Linear thinking into whatever situation I'm in.

And that's what I've been doing for the past few situations I've been in.

1. Overwhelmed by complexity

2. Too much info/steps stretching to the future

3. Unsure what to do next

4. Let's think more lineary about this.

It's uncomfortable, but I'm starting to get the hang of it.

It's uncomfortable because what comes with simpler thinking is potential for mistakes, problems, unforeseen events, etc.

Which is what made me prefer more complex forms of thinking for most of my life.

But the truth is, that stunts you growth. Because you CAN NOT account for all variables of reality at once.

And if you try, you'll waste so much mental energy.

Now, this is not to say...ONLY think in simple ways. Got it?

But if you find yourself overwhelmed, unclear, etc.

It's because you're trying to control too many variables at once.

Don't.

– Omar