It took me forever to figure this out, but if I treat every setback that comes my way like the rung on a ladder, I can use it to climb higher.
Not easy to do depending on the circumstances, but the more I practise this the more I realize, like SS is saying, at least half the battle is a mental one. The more I push myself up the rungs of that ladder, the easier it gets.
At -x we place ideas and ideals (all meanings), Ideal for short.
At +x we place the immediate reality we perceive right now, Real for short.
At -y we place what we are technically speaking able to do, both immediately and in the long term, Able for short.
At +y we place practicality, pragmatism and cost of (in)action, Practice for short.
This is of course just meant as an illustrative short-hand, one cannot place complex stuff like this into neat diagrams or tests (like the infamously unscientific "Political compass test" f.e.).
We might have the Idea that we want to have cars running on hydrogen produced using only solar, wind and hydro-electric power production. As an Idea free from any other constraints it's not per se a bad one. But is it possible, plausible, practical and pragmatic right now? And what's the cost of it, and what's the cost of not doing it?
The imaginary diagram is for making it easier to (remember to) test ideas and reality and practicality and costs and ability, nothing more. It doesn't prove anything of any kind, it's just an aid.
For a practical example on how to use it, feed all your info on EVs into it, from their inception to present day and see what comes out.
Currently, all western governments are going full tilt for EVs, hydrogen engines, and so on. They are trying to make the Idea real. But what's the real cost? Is it actually more practical and pragmatic the way the endeavour's been gone about, than not imposing laws, regs et cetera trying to create bonus/malus-systems to engineer desired behaviours? Et cetera.
Oh yes - and it seems unavoidable too: no matter how many times I said "This schema is for illustrative purposes only, to help with visualising, taking notes and remembering the lecture only", at least 1/3 took it all literally, as if you could sort ideologies on a Right-Left axis, or even worse, sort individual issues on some axis or other.
Imagine the aggravation, mutual such, when I sat down with someone who wanted to know why they failed a test, despite them having regurgitated a diagram used as illustration, as if it was some kind of tangible proof.
And don't get me started on the "personality tests" sold online and abused as sorting tools when hiring: all you ever get, are people /skilled in manipulating the results of the test/ - i.e. people with a natural aptitude for egotism, egocentrism, manipulativeness and with no sense for fair play or essential ethics.
i agree, which is why the content of doom scrolling should be changed with powerful & insightful information … not just stupid funny shit on tiktok or reels on IG/youtube.
Alas, people doomscroll because it is easy to consume. Mindless. To many this is relaxation. They have not yet learned that leisure doesn't need to mean sloth. Real leisure is rewarded effort I think. Going to the gym, for instance.
i agree. i believe its because the human organism needs problem solving. it needs something to do everyday. i believe thats where happiness comes from, because we cant just eat and sleep our lives away. how can we just be happy when we havent tasted the efforts of actually becoming happy?
Beautiful piece. I remember my good friend recounting how unless you’re going to prison or about to die then “you don’t have a problem, you have a situation.” It really helped reframe many events that seemed insurmountable but were actually not too bad in the end.
An absurd mentality, and a recipe for perfectionism and the hesitation it typically induces. Try harder, Will. Push through. Perfect is the enemy of good and all that.
Excellent stuff Spaceman. And if was honest, just what I needed to hear today. So thanks for the pep talk!
You are welcome.
me too
Glad to hear it.
It took me forever to figure this out, but if I treat every setback that comes my way like the rung on a ladder, I can use it to climb higher.
Not easy to do depending on the circumstances, but the more I practise this the more I realize, like SS is saying, at least half the battle is a mental one. The more I push myself up the rungs of that ladder, the easier it gets.
Everything is experience. It is hard to think like that, but it works. Everything helps you learn, even the setbacks.
Speaking of practical, how about this?
Imagine a diagram, -x to +x, -y to +y.
At -x we place ideas and ideals (all meanings), Ideal for short.
At +x we place the immediate reality we perceive right now, Real for short.
At -y we place what we are technically speaking able to do, both immediately and in the long term, Able for short.
At +y we place practicality, pragmatism and cost of (in)action, Practice for short.
This is of course just meant as an illustrative short-hand, one cannot place complex stuff like this into neat diagrams or tests (like the infamously unscientific "Political compass test" f.e.).
We might have the Idea that we want to have cars running on hydrogen produced using only solar, wind and hydro-electric power production. As an Idea free from any other constraints it's not per se a bad one. But is it possible, plausible, practical and pragmatic right now? And what's the cost of it, and what's the cost of not doing it?
The imaginary diagram is for making it easier to (remember to) test ideas and reality and practicality and costs and ability, nothing more. It doesn't prove anything of any kind, it's just an aid.
For a practical example on how to use it, feed all your info on EVs into it, from their inception to present day and see what comes out.
Currently, all western governments are going full tilt for EVs, hydrogen engines, and so on. They are trying to make the Idea real. But what's the real cost? Is it actually more practical and pragmatic the way the endeavour's been gone about, than not imposing laws, regs et cetera trying to create bonus/malus-systems to engineer desired behaviours? Et cetera.
Hope this is useful in some way.
Mental models have a lot to answer for.
Oh yes - and it seems unavoidable too: no matter how many times I said "This schema is for illustrative purposes only, to help with visualising, taking notes and remembering the lecture only", at least 1/3 took it all literally, as if you could sort ideologies on a Right-Left axis, or even worse, sort individual issues on some axis or other.
Imagine the aggravation, mutual such, when I sat down with someone who wanted to know why they failed a test, despite them having regurgitated a diagram used as illustration, as if it was some kind of tangible proof.
And don't get me started on the "personality tests" sold online and abused as sorting tools when hiring: all you ever get, are people /skilled in manipulating the results of the test/ - i.e. people with a natural aptitude for egotism, egocentrism, manipulativeness and with no sense for fair play or essential ethics.
Late-night thinking brought me here.
What does this mean to you?
Like, share, comment 🫶🏾
Thank you for the support 🥺❤️
https://izzyisdoingfine.substack.com/p/to-master-defeat-is-to-master-the?utm_source=direct&r=77ip85&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer
Late night thinking can be dangerous.
very true. but you are the master of your own mind.
Some are. The people lost on phones with their phantom pings are not. And they seem to be a growing demographic.
i agree, which is why the content of doom scrolling should be changed with powerful & insightful information … not just stupid funny shit on tiktok or reels on IG/youtube.
I agree. Or books.
Alas, people doomscroll because it is easy to consume. Mindless. To many this is relaxation. They have not yet learned that leisure doesn't need to mean sloth. Real leisure is rewarded effort I think. Going to the gym, for instance.
i agree. i believe its because the human organism needs problem solving. it needs something to do everyday. i believe thats where happiness comes from, because we cant just eat and sleep our lives away. how can we just be happy when we havent tasted the efforts of actually becoming happy?
thats just my personal thought.
Herr Spiff
Wow
Tusen Takk
Jon
Beautiful piece. I remember my good friend recounting how unless you’re going to prison or about to die then “you don’t have a problem, you have a situation.” It really helped reframe many events that seemed insurmountable but were actually not too bad in the end.
Some spend their life fearing being laid off or fired. Yet those who go through it quickly find out it isn't that bad. It is often liberating.
Life is experience. It is important to accept it is ALL experience, even the unpleasant bits. And it is generally survivable too.
Thanks for reading. Spread it wide and far 😜
An absurd mentality, and a recipe for perfectionism and the hesitation it typically induces. Try harder, Will. Push through. Perfect is the enemy of good and all that.
Make your own light, will.