Here’s the concept of optimal thinking in a nutshell. Suboptimal thinking is when you ask questions like, “What’s a good/great way to do X?” or “How can I solve Y?” Optimal thinking is when you ask, “What’s the best way to do X?” or “How can I solve Y in the best way possible?” It may seem like a subtle and unimportant difference, but when you start applying this rule to your life, I think you’ll see some interesting results as I have.






Keep in mind that the best solution always takes into account the resources you have available. If a possible solution is impractical, then it certainly isn’t optimal. 

In my experience the most beneficial aspect of optimal thinking is that it helps you raise your standards. Instead of settling for suboptimal solutions and mediocre results, you commit to doing your best, yet in a way that’s practical and which considers the reality of your situation. Often when you ask yourself, “What’s the best …,” you’ll find your mind zooming towards a very different kind of solution than you would if you asked suboptimal questions.


Here are some sample optimal thinking questions to get your mind moving in that direction:
• What’s the best use of my time right now?
• What’s the best way for me to exercise regularly (when, what, how)?
• What’s the best way to get myself out of debt?
• What’s the best way for me to make an extra $10,000 as quickly as possible?
• What’s the best school for my child to attend?
• What’s the best place for me to live?
• What’s the best way to reply to this email? (use this one repeatedly to purge that clogged inbox)
• What’s the best way for me to improve my social life?
• What’s the best book I should read next?
• What’s the best character class I could play in City of Heroes?
• What’s the best new blog I should be reading regularly and tell everyone I know about?