Writing down ideas forces your brain to discover what you really think

In an environmental ethics class, the author was required to write weekly essays on topics like "why I think eating meat is unacceptable" or "GMOs are okay, actually." The professor, Professor Simeone, was a hard grader who highlighted the importance of seriously considering counterarguments. The author's early attempts at arguing for meat consumption received poor grades and feedback, prompting the author to reevaluate their position and write rewrites to earn back some points.

This experience taught the author to be open to learning and the power of writing in uncovering flaws in their own thinking.

Writing can be tedious and challenging, requiring focus and effort. However, the process of writing exposes and refines our thoughts, allowing us to make new connections and discover insights. This was evident when a Spanish tutor helped a student remember the word "soldado" by forcing them to think about the word's meaning through a series of questions. The act of writing forces logic and clarity, making the author's own thoughts more coherent and well-formed.

Wisdom, a complex concept, can be learned through consistent writing and reflection. By writing about wisdom or leadership, one can refine their understanding of these topics and develop a better grasp of the logic and evidence supporting their views. The author's practice of journaling, even in its simplest form, helps them capture their thoughts and track the evolution of their thinking.

For anyone seeking to improve their understanding of wisdom or leadership, the author recommends embracing the challenge of writing about the topic, no matter how imperfect the initial attempts may be.