Introduction: The Challenge of Thought-to-Expression
My thoughts don’t start as words. They form as interwoven patterns of experience, flashes of connected ideas, and contextual frameworks that make perfect sense inside my head—but often require a translation process before they can be communicated effectively.
This isn’t a matter of knowing what I think—I know exactly what I think. The challenge is getting others to see the full picture, to understand not just the conclusion, but the entire reasoning process that led me there.
When I don’t prepare for this translation, my insights can seem impulsive or eccentric at best—or disorganized and incoherent at worst. I might reach a powerful realization after methodically working through dozens of dead ends, but if I can’t walk someone else through that process, it can appear as though I’m making decisions arbitrarily.
For a long time, I struggled with this. I would go through intricate chains of reasoning, but when it came time to communicate those ideas, I’d either rush through them too fast or get sidetracked trying to provide necessary context. In real conversations, disruptions—whether from external distractions or the natural back-and-forth of dialogue—would derail my thought process, sometimes making me lose my place entirely.
I needed a system.
What follows isn’t a universal guide—it’s my system, developed through trial and error, and shaped to fit the way my mind works. If some part of it resonates with you, take it, refine it, and make it your own.
How My Mind Works: A Pattern-Based Thinking System
I don’t think in words or linear sequences—I think in patterns of aesthetic experience.
Ideas come to me as connected structures, woven together by context and meaning, much like fabric being tailored into a cohesive design.
A metaphor that best describes my thinking process is tailoring clothing:
- Each new idea or concept is like a fabric pattern that I examine, modify, and fit onto the mannequin of the subject I’m working on.
- Some pieces fit immediately; others need adjustments.
- Sometimes, a piece doesn’t fit at all, but instead of discarding it, I might find that it belongs on a different mannequin entirely.
This process happens rapidly, with thoughts flowing through me, each bringing textures of experience, memory, and logic. But when I try to verbalize this process, it slows down, becoming fragmented. It’s like trying to take a seamless design and explain each individual stitch, one at a time.
And if I get interrupted—whether by an external distraction or a shift in conversation—I can lose my place entirely. It’s like a GitHub commit tree, where multiple branches are being explored, tested, and refined. If I’m unable to complete a branch, it may never get merged back into the main idea, leaving an incomplete thought stranded mid-process.
I needed a way to capture these thoughts before they disappeared, and to externalize them so I could refine and communicate them more effectively.
The System I Developed to Bridge Thought and Communication
1. Externalizing Thoughts as a Save Point
One of the most powerful things I realized was that I needed a way to “save” my thoughts outside of my head—something I could revisit and refine later.
I experimented with different methods, but what worked best for me was:
- Recording myself thinking out loud—This allowed me to capture my thoughts without worrying about structuring them perfectly in the moment.
- Using transcription tools—This provided a real-time visual reference of my thought process, helping me track where I was, even if I got sidetracked.
- Writing & sketching—I carry two primary notebooks: a dotted notebook for structured thoughts and a sketchbook for more freeform visual exploration.
- Annotating books—Actively engaging with texts through marginal notes and highlights ensures I retain and refine insights over time.
By externalizing my thinking, I was no longer at the mercy of memory and distraction. I had anchors that allowed me to return to my ideas and develop them further.
2. Using LLMs as a Reflection & Organization Tool
This was a game-changer.
I don’t use LLMs to generate thoughts for me—I use them to help structure, clarify, and refine my existing thoughts.
Here’s how I integrate them into my process:
- After recording and transcribing my thoughts, I feed them into an LLM and ask it to summarize, organize, and highlight key themes.
- The LLM acts as a reflection tool, helping me see gaps in logic, refine unclear ideas, and structure my thoughts into something more communicable.
- It doesn’t replace my thinking—it acts as a sparring partner, helping me clarify and track my thought development over time.
Instead of losing valuable insights to scattered notes and half-finished thoughts, I now have a structured system that allows me to deepen my thinking while keeping my communication clear and authentic.
Listening Back Out Loud for Iterative Clarity
One critical aspect of this iterative refinement is how I actively engage with the structured content produced through this process. After I’ve used an LLM to summarize and organize my recorded thoughts, I utilize a text-to-speech tool—Speechify—to listen to the structured notes. Speechify allows me to quickly and easily create a voice that sounds somewhat like my own, making the listening experience feel more personal and engaging.
As I listen, I pause frequently to record my responses, clarifications, or additional insights, then resume playback. This iterative listening-and-recording cycle isn’t a one-time event; it repeats multiple times, digging deeper with each iteration. This continual back-and-forth process between listening, responding, and refining through the LLM helps me stay on track, clarify my insights, and maintain the original nuance and intent of my thoughts.
This practice of listening back out loud has become a crucial, consistent component of my communication system. It places me back into the mindset and context of my original thinking, enabling deeper reflection and greater precision in my final articulation.
3. Writing & Sketching as Additional Thinking Tools
Beyond transcription and LLM-assisted organization, I also rely heavily on physical notebooks.
- Dotted notebooks allow for freeform thinking, blending structured notes with diagrams, sketches, and conceptual maps.
- Sketchbooks serve as a space for more visual, exploratory thinking—sometimes thoughts come clearer in illustrations, patterns, or symbols than in words.
- Annotations in books help me engage deeply with external ideas, drawing connections between what I’m learning and what I already know.
While digital tools help with speed and organization, writing by hand helps with depth and retention—so I use both, depending on the stage of my thought process.
How This Has Transformed My Communication
Since implementing this system, I’ve noticed:
- More clarity in conversations—I can now stay on track, even when navigating complex ideas.
- Less frustration and miscommunication—By ensuring that I provide the necessary context upfront, I’ve reduced misunderstandings.
- More confidence in expressing my ideas—Instead of second-guessing whether I’ve made my point, I can rely on structured clarity.
- Improved written and spoken communication across different audiences—I can now express the same authentic thought to my wife, a colleague, or my aunt, but in ways that resonate with each person.
Most importantly, this process allows me to retain, refine, and develop my authentic thoughts without losing them to the noise of everyday life.
Final Takeaway: Communication Requires Intention
- Clear communication isn’t just about talking—it’s about intentionally shaping how your thoughts are expressed.
- For some, this comes intuitively—for others, like me, it requires a structured process.
- The sooner you refine your own communication system, the sooner you unlock clarity, understanding, and control over how you navigate the world.
This is what works for me. Maybe something here will work for you too. Try it, refine it, and make it your own.
Transparency Note: This post was structured and edited with the assistance of a Large Language Model (LLM). However, every idea, argument, and insight originates from my own thinking. The LLM is used solely to refine communication—never to generate artistic or literary works. (For more, see my Transparency Policy.)
