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Inner World

Thinking

Critical thinking, cognitive biases, decision-making, and learning to see clearly. The operating system behind everything else.

125 advices
Thinking

Attack the Argument, Not the Person Making It

Judge the argument on its own merits, regardless of who delivers it.

9
Thinking

"If We Allow This, Everything Will Collapse" Is Rarely True

One change rarely triggers an unstoppable chain reaction — each step has its own decision point.

12
Thinking

If the Problem Keeps Returning, It's Probably a System

Recurring problems are structural symptoms — redesign the system, don't just fix the instance.

10
Thinking

No Plan Survives Contact with Reality — But Planning Still Matters

The value of planning is the preparation to adapt, not the plan itself.

13
Thinking

The Map Is Not the Territory

Treat your understanding of the world as a working draft, not a finished document.

16
Thinking

Replace "I Think" with "I Currently Believe Because..."

Stating your reasoning out loud keeps your mind open to changing it.

13
Thinking

Strong Opinions, Loosely Held

Have the courage to commit to your ideas, and the honesty to abandon them when proven wrong.

12
Thinking

You Don't Know What You Don't Know

Build the habit of asking what you might be missing before you decide.

12
Thinking

Most Problems Look Different When You Write Them Down

When a problem feels overwhelming, write it down — clarity usually follows.

10
Thinking

Think from First Principles

When the usual approach fails, break the problem down to what you know for certain and reason up from there.

7
Thinking

You See What You Want to See

Actively seek out evidence against your beliefs — your brain will not do it for you.

22
Thinking

Solve Problems Backwards

Instead of asking how to succeed, ask what would guarantee failure — then avoid those things.

12
Thinking

Don't Keep Digging Just Because You Already Dug the Hole

Past investment should not dictate future decisions — ask whether you would start the same thing today.

12
Thinking

Think About the Consequences of Consequences

Before making a big decision, ask \"and then what?\" at least twice to see past the immediate outcome.

9
Thinking

Argue Against the Best Version of the Other Side

Before you argue against an idea, make sure you can state it in a way its supporters would endorse.

5
Thinking

See the System, Not Just the Parts

When something keeps failing, look at how the parts interact rather than blaming individual pieces.

22
Thinking

Think in Probabilities, Not Certainties

Assign rough probabilities to outcomes instead of pretending you know what will happen for certain.

9