Your words are a sword that can destroy the world or create it. Learn to use it well for yourself and the society.
Jordan Peterson says that in order to think well, it’s best to learn to write. When you can organize your thoughts well on paper (or in any digital format like this one), it helps you see what’s going on in your head much more clearly—and he is not the first to say this.
Many thinkers before him have said the same thing. Writing helps clear away the jumbled mess in your head and allows you to sort it out properly.
Peterson also says that a harmless man is not a good man. A good man who is merely harmless is of no real use to himself or to society. What’s important is to become a dangerous man—and then learn to control it.
The easiest way to become a lethal force in society today is by developing the ability to articulate your thoughts well. If you know exactly what you want to say and how to say it, you can destroy people with your arguments. To do that effectively, you need the ability to organize your thoughts and reasoning clearly, and that only comes from practice. Even if you don’t get to speak every day, you can definitely write.
Writing a little bit every day can take you a long way. The good part is that you’ll get better at it over time.
I used to write regularly, but then I stopped because I felt I had no reason to—what would I even write about every day? There has to be something worthwhile to say. But I think that’s just me being lazy. We all have things we can contribute. There’s always better input I can give to myself or the world.
There’s a book in all of us.
— Roland Mangold
Here’s how you can sharpen your writing skills and your ability to express yourself better:
Journal Your Thoughts#
Write down your thoughts. You don’t have to share it with the world—just do it to help yourself. You can also try to brain dump, where you write down all your thoughts. It takes 10-15 minutes of your day max but, in return to gain so much more.
If brain dumping is not your style, there are plenty of different journaling styles to choose from, mix and match and choose the one you like.
Write Essays#
I enjoy doing this, although I don’t spend time writing long essays, it’s a fun activity to push your thoughts in a particular direction and explore the boundaries. If you start writing essays you’ll definitely enjoy it—it’s easy and makes you feel like a philosopher.
Rewrite or Improve It Further#
Whatever you write—with time you’ll notice that your thoughts and perspectives have changed. The essay you wrote down 5 years ago doesn’t match what you know now. You have changed and so has your world view, or the world itself.
You can write a new updated text based on it or update and improve it. It all depends on what the topic of your writings were.
Other Things To Consider#
Your ability to organize thoughts doesn’t depend only on writing practice. Things like your health and mental space also make a big difference. It’s also a good habit to maintain a growth mindset and learn new things from time to time. What you learn will influence how you organize ideas and view the world.
Be critical in your thinking and always question your own beliefs. Always remember that everyone knows something about a topic that you don’t. Take that into consideration and be ready to learn from anyone.
