How we navigate the "Messy Middle" is more critical than getting started or reaching the finish line.

Personal Socrates introduces Scott Belsky, author of The Messy Middle. Belsky contends that mental toughness and wellbeing is a key factor in navigating messy middles.

I learned the ENCODE Framework during Nick Milo's keynote address for the May 2022 edition of his Linking Your Thinking Conference.

Let's apply the framework to communications among our 3 selves.

#1: Encounter

Our Now Self notices something interesting and we say, "Hello!"

#2: Note

Now Self makes a note; mental, digital, or analog.

#3: Connect

Now Self or Future Self discovers a thread:
"What does this note remind me of?"

Here's where we link our Now Self's thinking to something our Past Self encountered or wrote about.

#4: Organize 

Now it's time to organize our Past Self's writings for the benefit of our Future Selves. Use the prompt, "Wow! That's a part of (thing x)."

Through this process, we find that our "sense-making process" isn't all that messy!

#5: Develop

So far, we have Encountered > Made Note > Connected > Organized

The first 4 steps lead us from a now Past Self to a Now Self who further develops the idea. We write about it in our own words.

#6:  Express

We are well-prepared to express our thoughts and our emotions. This note becomes useful to a Future Self, a few others, or a wider audience.

Apply this framework to your journaling practice in 5 Steps.

1. Search your vault for Semantic Goldmines: I want | I need | I feel

2. Examine your vault for connections to triggers. (positive, negative)

3. Adjust.

4. Run another Semantic Goldmine check.

5. Repeat.