Today, we’re not short on information. In fact, we often have too much of it. You can find answers to almost any question—but they often contradict each other. Finding a useful grain in information becomes crucial.
Too Many Options, Too Much Confusion
One expert says do it this way, another says never do that. Each version has followers, confident in their truth. So who’s right? And more importantly—how do we know what’s right for us?
This pressure to find one correct answer can feel overwhelming. It creates anxiety, especially if we fear making the wrong choice. However, searching for a useful grain within the information can alleviate this pressure.
Finding the Useful Grain in Information
Here’s a mindset that helps me: every piece of information has a useful grain in it. Even if something sounds like nonsense at first, it might still carry a small insight, hidden in the noise. Looking for that useful grain helps in making sense of the overwhelming information.
Rather than choosing one side and rejecting the other completely, we can create a third option—a blend. We gather only the grains that resonate with us, and we discard the husks.
This approach allows us to make choices with more clarity and less fear.
A Real Example: Weight Loss Advice
Think about all the contradictory advice around losing weight. One source says eat fat, another says never do it. Some say don’t eat after 6 PM, others claim timing doesn’t matter at all. Amidst this, finding a useful grain of information tailored to your needs is invaluable.
For someone who enjoys fats but wants to lose weight, this can feel impossible. But with the “useful grain” mindset, you can see both sides, reflect, and build your own version—something that makes sense for your life.
There’s No Perfect Answer—And That’s Okay
In most cases, the truth isn’t in extremes. It’s in the small insights, the quiet observations, the parts that feel intuitively right. You don’t have to choose someone else’s full version. You can choose your own, focusing on gathering useful grains of information as you do so.
Want to Explore This Further?
If you liked this idea, you might enjoy this article Unsolicited Advice: When “Good” Turns into Trouble—another look at how to trust yourself when opinions differ.
Or check out this overview on critical thinking to develop your own filters for information, helping you to identify useful grains in any information you encounter.
