Often we feel like we are stuck. We know we have things to do but perhaps we feel overwhelmed, for whatever reason. This can sometimes leave us in a frozen state, not knowing what to do, or where to start. During times like these our minds feel like a messy fruit salad of thoughts—disorganized, chaotic, and overwhelming.
Life throws a lot at us, and when we’re trying to make sense of it all, it’s easy to feel stuck, like you’re facing a vast river with no bridge in sight. But what if the way across that river wasn’t some grand leap, but rather the slow, steady process of laying down one stone at a time? What if, instead of letting the flood of thoughts drown you, you found a way to organize them—one piece at a time?
One of the most powerful ways to start building that bridge is through writing. Writing about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences forces you to slow down and take stock of what’s actually going on in your head. When you try to communicate something complex, you’re compelled to separate the layers of thought and structure them in a way that makes sense, not only to others but also to yourself. This process can transform that blurry mess of thoughts into something much clearer, much more manageable.
It’s easy for us to sit and think, think, think—adding more layers to an already full mental plate. But those thoughts often stay jumbled in our minds in a messy fruit salad of thoughts. When we write, we’re giving ourselves the chance to untangle them. We’re placing those jumbled ideas into categories, stacking them in order of relevance, and organizing them into a narrative. This kind of mental clarity doesn’t happen by accident—it takes intention.
Think about it: in everyday life, you might be dealing with dozens of thoughts at once—work, relationships, goals, finances, and a thousand other concerns. Our minds are rarely operating on just one track. We’re constantly jumping between thoughts, adding more complexity to the mental load. It’s no wonder we can feel overwhelmed and stuck at times! But writing can be a game-changer here. It forces you to take one thought at a time, put it down, and deal with it before moving to the next.
Now, you might be thinking: “Sure, writing sounds great, but what if I still don’t have any answers?” That’s okay. The goal isn’t always to find immediate solutions; sometimes it’s just about clearing the fog. By expressing your thoughts and getting them out in front of you, you give yourself the space to see things more clearly. It’s like stepping back from a jigsaw puzzle—only then can you start to see how the pieces might fit together instead of looking like a messy fruit salad of thoughts.
Another key benefit of writing is that it helps you manage the mental clutter. When everything stays in your head, it’s easy to lose track of the important stuff. Writing about your thoughts and experiences forces you to prioritize. What really matters right now? What’s just noise? When you can sift through the mental chaos and put things in order, you might be surprised at how much simpler everything seems.
The next step, once you’ve gained that clarity, is action. The power of “just doing the thing” cannot be overstated. Sometimes the most overwhelming part of any challenge is thinking about the entire journey all at once. It can feel impossible to see how you’ll get from point A to point B, especially if point B feels like it’s on the other side of that big, aggressive river. But here’s the trick: you don’t need to cross the river in one jump. You just need to take one step—lay down one stone at a time.
Start with one thing. It could be editing one chapter of a book, cleaning your room, tackling one small project at work, or even making one decision you’ve been putting off. Whatever it is, focus on that single task. Once it’s done, move on to the next. Over time, you’ll look back and realize you’ve built a bridge across that once-daunting river, stone by stone, step by step.
So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck, if your thoughts are swirling in a chaotic mess, looking and feeling like a messy fruit salad of thoughts, give writing a try. Sit down, and start sorting through those layers of thought. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers—sometimes, the simple act of putting your thoughts into words is the first step toward clarity. And once you’ve cleared some of the fog, start laying those stones. You might be surprised at how much progress you can make when you take things one step at a time.
Remember, it’s not about getting everything right all at once. It’s about moving forward, little by little. Writing can help you organize your thoughts, but action—however small—will help you build that bridge. And before you know it, you’ll find yourself on the other side, looking back at how far you’ve come.
By clicking on the images to the sides of this you will be taken to their Amazon listings, where you can acquire Tony’s books for yourself or as a gift.
You can heal your life. You have nothing to lose, and remember,
Thoughts Have Power.
All rights reserved. © 2024 Tony Jarrah
Leave a Reply