In the book Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman beautifully explains the two systems our mind uses to process information, decide, think, and execute.
System One: Is the fast system that is intuitive, emotional, natural, and automatic. This system executes immediately when it receives information; it needs little time to react.
System Two: Is the slower one; this system is our actual self—more cautious, deliberate, and logical. It waits for complete information before processing and uses previous judgments and decisions to make the best choice.
We use both systems as we live, work, and play every day. Both systems are equally important.
The two systems also work differently and have their own biases and heuristics. One significant distinction in the two systems is where the doubt in our thoughts arise. According to Kahneman:
“Doubt only exists in System Two, the slow system, because it always keeps weighing multiple options to execute.”
By contrast, System One (the faster one) has just one option when responding to a particular event or piece of information. That is why it is fast: there are no options to consider, just a direct single action for the response.
Can we train ourselves to use System One more?
If we can clearly set priorities for ourselves and have well-defined steps of action for each of those priorities—then we can indeed train our brain to use System One more.
When we know how and when to use System Two as well, we can reap many rewards. I highly recommend reading Kahneman’s book, Thinking, Fast and Slow.
If you often find yourself caught between many options and unable to move forward due to multiple layers of confusion, a deep knowledge of these two systems can help you elevate your understanding of the mental processes involved in knowing, learning, interpreting, decision making, and executing actions.
With practice and time, training your brain to efficiently use these two systems can give way to great outcomes.