Super article! I was taught that opportunities should be treated as adventures, and always say Yes! If it turns out not so good, you learn something from it. If it turns out great, what wonderful memories. Being too cautious is just not living.
It's fashionable to talk about "toxic masculinity", but the real problem today is "toxic mediocrity". Unless we consciously choose to be weird, we will be sucked in. Every little decision matters.
That is a good point. Embracing mediocrity perhaps. I certainly see a sheepishness in embracing heroism or anything close to it. The Marvel movies rarely have one standout hero, more of a collective thing these days. And the writers aren't too keen on strong men.
Great article, and just the kind of thing I needed to read! If boldness isn't your default state of being, it is very easy to get trapped in analysis paralysis from an overabundance of caution. I heard someone give the advice that when you are considering an action, instead of asking "what if?" (within the mindset of "what if I try this and it goes poorly?") ask yourself "what if I don't?" and shift the perspective to what kind of loss your inaction could bring about. Mediocrity is no way to live.
What if I don't is a great framing technique. It places the emphasis on inaction, and makes us confront that.
Analysis paralysis I think is the killer. Overthinking. Underdoing. It is hard to overcome that I find. Especially if it is fear or caution that is behind it.
But looking at the alternative, what if I don't try is good.
Really enjoyed this. Unfortunately the “correct” application of caution demands wisdom which is one of those dang things that come with age! Perhaps a focus on perseverance and resilience accelerates wisdom. In the end they all require action, called courage. Teach courageousness and perseverance and rest will follow.
Action is what it is all about, and overcoming whatever prevents the action. Usually fear or anxiety. It is the blunderers who make it in life not the elaborate planners.
You make a great point about perfectionism and over planning being a dangerous trap. It allows us to indulge our anxiety and neurosis with avoidance that we can sell to ourselves as a positive/productive behavior.
A massive trap for the above average IQs especially. All that planning can trick us. It feels productive.
A significant element drawing the intellectuals towards Leftism and away from things like freedom or capitalism is the observation the successful seem reckless. They, the high IQ people, are much more cautious, and a lot of that is probably elaborate planning that doesn't actually work but feels essential. Compare that to some young tech bro knocking together an app that blows up and he is buying a Lamborghini for his 25th birthday. There is no justice in this world! We need a better system so us clever people succeed.
All that because the anxiety of not knowing what comes next is attended to via a fictional plan. Whereas the dopes don't feel the anxiety much anyway and just get on with it.
Super article! I was taught that opportunities should be treated as adventures, and always say Yes! If it turns out not so good, you learn something from it. If it turns out great, what wonderful memories. Being too cautious is just not living.
Well an alternative to the caution thing is - say yes more! See where it take you. Jail perhaps, lol.
It's fashionable to talk about "toxic masculinity", but the real problem today is "toxic mediocrity". Unless we consciously choose to be weird, we will be sucked in. Every little decision matters.
That is a good point. Embracing mediocrity perhaps. I certainly see a sheepishness in embracing heroism or anything close to it. The Marvel movies rarely have one standout hero, more of a collective thing these days. And the writers aren't too keen on strong men.
Great article, and just the kind of thing I needed to read! If boldness isn't your default state of being, it is very easy to get trapped in analysis paralysis from an overabundance of caution. I heard someone give the advice that when you are considering an action, instead of asking "what if?" (within the mindset of "what if I try this and it goes poorly?") ask yourself "what if I don't?" and shift the perspective to what kind of loss your inaction could bring about. Mediocrity is no way to live.
What if I don't is a great framing technique. It places the emphasis on inaction, and makes us confront that.
Analysis paralysis I think is the killer. Overthinking. Underdoing. It is hard to overcome that I find. Especially if it is fear or caution that is behind it.
But looking at the alternative, what if I don't try is good.
Really enjoyed this. Unfortunately the “correct” application of caution demands wisdom which is one of those dang things that come with age! Perhaps a focus on perseverance and resilience accelerates wisdom. In the end they all require action, called courage. Teach courageousness and perseverance and rest will follow.
Action is what it is all about, and overcoming whatever prevents the action. Usually fear or anxiety. It is the blunderers who make it in life not the elaborate planners.
You make a great point about perfectionism and over planning being a dangerous trap. It allows us to indulge our anxiety and neurosis with avoidance that we can sell to ourselves as a positive/productive behavior.
A massive trap for the above average IQs especially. All that planning can trick us. It feels productive.
A significant element drawing the intellectuals towards Leftism and away from things like freedom or capitalism is the observation the successful seem reckless. They, the high IQ people, are much more cautious, and a lot of that is probably elaborate planning that doesn't actually work but feels essential. Compare that to some young tech bro knocking together an app that blows up and he is buying a Lamborghini for his 25th birthday. There is no justice in this world! We need a better system so us clever people succeed.
All that because the anxiety of not knowing what comes next is attended to via a fictional plan. Whereas the dopes don't feel the anxiety much anyway and just get on with it.