Kidlin's Law

 

Have you ever found yourself visiting a new place where there is so much crowd that you can’t figure out the right direction to proceed, which causes you to feel lost in the city? We all have come across math and physics problems in school where we became puzzled with variables and equations that we kept on circling in loops, never really arriving at the solution. Honestly, everyone goes through this feeling from time to time. With so much going through their mind, they feel clueless and paralyzed about what to do next. Here comes the Kidlin’s Law, derived from the fictional character of Kidlin from a 1962 novel King Rat. The law states that by writing down a problem clearly and specifically, it is already half solved. The problem-solving theory emphasizes that breaking down the problem into small manageable components, clearly defining it, structuring, and putting it down on paper cuts through the noise and guides you towards the solution.

 

The theory is also based on taking radical self-responsibility. The first step is acknowledging the problem, observing it with self-awareness, sometimes bringing external intervention, and ultimately, writing it down on paper. So, the next time you find yourself jostling in an ocean of ideas, so overwhelming that you can no longer decide how to take the first step, remember the Kidlin’s law and instead of obsessing over your new fancy notebook, just pull it out and write down your ideas.