The Truth of Simplicity

During my work, I often felt unsure when complex words were used around me, hesitating to ask their meaning for fear of exposing a lack of knowledge. At the same time, when someone explained things in simple terms, I assumed they lacked depth. This contradiction made me reflect on my own communication style, and a senior colleague’s observation that I frequently used repetitive words and jargon made me question my habits further. When I explored this more deeply, I realized that the environment around me had played a significant role in shaping my perception of language. Fancy words sounded impressive, and without realizing it, I started using them too. Although my thoughts were often clear in my mind, my way of expressing them wasn’t. I found myself over-explaining, complicating my speech, and losing confidence when speaking in front of highly experienced professionals. The more nervous I became, the more I framed my thoughts differently, only to struggle in expressing them simply. Encouraged by my senior to use the language I was most comfortable with, I tried, but it wasn’t easy. I had unknowingly conditioned myself to believe that complexity equated to intelligence, and breaking that pattern required deep reflection.?

A Progressive Shift?

Then, I came across the book Don’t Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen, which made me realize that intelligence is not measured by complexity but by clarity. One of the book’s core ideas is that our minds tend to overcomplicate things, assuming that deep thoughts must be layered, intellectual, and difficult to understand. In reality, the most profound ideas are often the simplest, but we overthink, distort, and create mental barriers that make simplicity seem inadequate. Nguyen argues that wisdom comes not from adding layers of complexity but from removing unnecessary noise. This resonated deeply with me, as I had spent so much time trying to sound articulate that I lost sight of the essence of what I wanted to say. The book helped me understand that the ability to simplify is not a weakness—it is a strength, and it is what makes communication impactful.?

The Power of Clear Communication?

As I started applying this learning in my life, I noticed a shift in the way I connected with others. In leadership, social work, and everyday conversations, I realized that simple words build stronger connections, while overly complex language can create distance. This was evident in the experiences of some of my friends as well. One friend, who runs a social enterprise, initially described her work using technical terms, thinking it made her sound credible. However, she later found that sharing real stories of the women she helped allowed people to connect with her work more meaningfully. Another friend, who works in mental health, struggled to make people see why emotional well-being is important. She now explains it using a simple analogy: "If you broke your leg, you’d get a cast. So why not take care of your mind the same way?" This shift in her approach has helped her start deeper and more meaningful conversations.?

Practicing Simplicity in Thought and Speech?

Practicing simplicity in communication is like solving a puzzle—it involves breaking big ideas into smaller, clearer parts. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I now approach my thoughts with three simple questions: What is the main idea? What supports it? How does it connect to real life? This shift in perspective has not only improved my ability to articulate my thoughts but has also given me confidence and clarity. Simplicity is not about reducing depth but about making ideas more accessible. The more I embraced this mindset, the more I realized that truth does not need extra decoration—it speaks for itself.?

Simplicity: The Ultimate Superpower?

As Don’t Believe Everything You Think, some of the parts in the book suggests, the key to clarity and simplicity is not in making things more elaborate but in making them more understandable. In a world where complexity is often mistaken for intelligence, clarity is a superpower that allows us to communicate with impact, foster connections, and truly be understood.?

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