The ability to articulate and express our thoughts effectively is a wonderful phenomenon. It is one of the most essential elements in effective communication. An effective communicator wards off the disconnection and disenchantment in communication and ushers in clarity like a beacon of light on a dark foggy night. The nebulous haze of ambiguity is replaced with a clear vision. Clarity of thought is all about being clear and precise in our communication. It is like a clear flowing stream, where in you will be able to see the bottom of it.
A conversation is obviously a weave of a stream of thoughts. The more clearly you express the more comprehensive it becomes. If you ask a child to recite a story, he / she probably will start with the ending then come to the middle part and finally the beginning. For them, the story gets re-orchestrated based on their interests. However, Clarity of Thought is just the opposite of this. It is about structuring our thoughts and knowing what to express, how to express and when to express. It is not necessary to say something for the sake of saying it. Clarity is also about knowing when to maintain silence. It is rightly said that even a dead clock is right 2 times in a day.
What is the difference between a Guru and a Teacher? A teacher is also highly knowledgeable and knows virtually everything under the sun. But possessing knowledge by itself is not enough. To gravitate towards the stature of a guru, one should be able to articulate in a language which is understandable to all, from the gullible to the intellectually superior. Clarity of thought is the projection of our knowledge in the most acceptable and understandable manner. Even we can be right at times by saying "No", provided we say it with lot of conviction. It comes as no surprise that great leaders possess profound clarity of thought.
A sculptor may see a beautiful sculpture in a piece of granite. A potter may see a beautiful vase in a heap of clay. A guru may see the latent brilliance in his disciple. It is always the end product which matters. The ability to see the light at the other end of the tunnel, through the cloud of uncertainty and inhibitions is called as Clarity of thought. If we stand in front of a mountain, we would be able to see only a huge wall of stone. But if we climb up to the top of the mountain, what we see is an entirely different world. Similarly when we articulate, it should be like the view from the mountain top. Clear, unhindered, structured and holistic.
"Let us take advantage of every opportunity to practice our communication skills so that when important occasions arise, we will have the gift, the style, the sharpness, the clarity and the emotions to affect other people."
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