I place a high value on the ability to think clearly, especially in this age of distraction and general anxiety. It’s useful to consider the enemies of clear thinking:
- Pride, emotional unsteadiness, anger
- Unhealthy eating, and overeating
- Overly sedentary, for hours and days
- Undisciplined or purposeless use of unscheduled time
- Isolation and self-obsession (different than solitude)
- Only using comfortable sources of information
- Trying to be informed about all current events
- Prioritizing urgent and inconsistent instead of long-term and consistent
- Being rigidly unimaginative
- Placing myself outside of accountability and authority structures
- Staying inside all the time
Recognizing these enemies helps us choose alternative and better behaviors.
