How do you choose from conflicting thoughts? Which voice do you follow when there are so much of them going on and they are just creating noise? That overwhelming feeling you get when you just in a place where you do not know how to go forward. This specific point extends from the one we touched on from the decision-making chapter. I felt there are some slight distinctions that could be added to further elaborate. Making decision is when we have multiple option requiring us to choose as we have already mentioned previously. However, having multiple conflicting thoughts going in your mind at once, creates friction in the system. This affects our emotional state and thinking.

When we have congestions in our thoughts, where further thinking just invites more troubles, what do we do? The more we try to force our way through, the more the storm seems to gather. Someone once asked me what I do in such situation. I reflected on moments where I had overcome such feelings. I told them I often do nothing. Not ‘nothing’ in the sense of not attempting to resolve the problem but nothing in the sense where I take rest. I either paused or went and laid down and take breaks. I lay down because change in posture and or environment allows the energy and tension to lessen mentally and in the body. Now, you may not have the privilege to do nothing and just lay down in all condition. So, what feasible option could you explore? Again, like the decision-making chapter where we added an unfamiliar perspective or fresh thinking. This instance of adding a distinct perspective could be you undertaking another task. A task that does not require engagement or use of the same system that got you stuck.

Let us put it this way for the sake of having an example. If you were unable to make decision on project that you were working on, on the computer. The example could be that you proceed onto something else away from the computer or a project distinct from the one you were working on. You could also go to a different environment and see if you can work on something else. Our mind is an interesting thing, just because you are working on a different project does not mean it will stop trying to find solution to your initial problem. When it creates a relaxed state, it will continue looking for answers but indirectly. Meaning it will try to create new connection back towards your initial problem. If that happens, note the thoughts down or record it so you can have it handy when you do revisit back to the point you were stuck on initially. It is important that you keep the problem in your periphery even when you are working on different project or have changed environment. This allows for that connection to be able to be relayed back towards the initial request for solution.