This is how thinking is done
I am playing Disco Elysium, where certain topics that arise in the story become available as “thoughts” in what the game calls the Thought Cabinet.
The main character can hold several thoughts at once. To internalize one, it must be placed in a free slot, and after some time, it grants bonuses that alter character traits, unlock new dialogue paths, and subtly reshape how the world is perceived and interpreted.
At one point, the game introduces these mechanics with a long description that concludes, “This is how thinking is done”, subtly suggesting that this system is not only gameplay but also the creators’ conception of how thinking works.
This reminded me of my own habit of taking notes and weaving them together across several areas of interest that I am nurturing at any given moment. Doing this keeps them fresh in my short-term memory, and as a result I am more likely to notice related things in daily life. By writing those observations down, I gradually expand my understanding of the subject, creating a kind of feedback loop.
Perhaps I could keep a running list of the thoughts I am actively carrying—my own version of a Thought Cabinet.
