There are no bad decisions, only bad outcomes. Every decision is the best one possible at the time. Recognizing this and, more important, believing it, enables you to stop beating yourself up over how things turn out.
Ask HN: What are your “brain hacks” that help you manage everyday situations?
291–300 of 370 posts
Re: Ask HN: What are your “brain hacks” that help you manage everyday situations?
#292“the only motivational advice anyone has ever needed: You don’t have to feel like getting something done in order to actually get it done.“ https://medium.com/swlh/theres-no-such-thing-as-motivation-e...
Corollary: you can be a good doctor and have a terrible attitude as long as you internalize the latter.
Re: Ask HN: What are your “brain hacks” that help you manage everyday situations?
#293One of my favorites is, "If not now, when?" If there's something I should do that I don't want to do now, I have to come up with a specific time or condition when it's really going to happen. It made me realize how much "later" is a fictional time rarely arrives.
"If we wait until we're ready, we'll never get started."—Eleanor Roosevelt
Re: Ask HN: What are your “brain hacks” that help you manage everyday situations?
#294Earlier quoted context omitted.
Which earplugs do you use? I find that my ears get very irritated using earplugs for extended periods.
I use CVS Superior Soft Foam Earplugs ~ https://www.cvs.com/shop/cvs-superior-soft-foam-earplugs-pro... .. nothing really fancy, though maybe the nicest ones that most CVS' sell. Sometimes, I will experience minor discomfort if I've pushed them too far in my head, but pulling them out just a little usually relieves any problem. I've had them in all day (again), only taking them out once for a long conversation I had…
Best earplugs IMHO: Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs: https://www.amazon.com/Macks-Pillow-Soft-Silicone-Earplugs/d.... I've tried EVERY type on the market over the past 55 years and have been using Mack's for at least 30 years.
Re: Ask HN: What are your “brain hacks” that help you manage everyday situations?
#295Frame situations in such a way that you're happy with whichever outcome eventuates.
Simple example: Tomorrow's Saturday. If it's Sunny we can go on that family picnic we were talking about. If it's Rainy we can stay inside and watch that movie we've been wanting to watch. Positive outcome either way.
More Complex example: Tomorrow I have an interview for a job that sounds great. If it goes well then I get the job. If it doesn't go so well it'll be great experience for the next interview. Positive outcome either way.
Sometimes it can be a stretch to find the "silver lining" in a given situation but there's usually one there even if you can't see it at first. See also "Good, Bad, Who's to Say?":
https://www.ted.com/talks/heather_lanier_good_and_bad_are_in...
Re: Ask HN: What are your “brain hacks” that help you manage everyday situations?
#296Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd say another common theme in these is language hacking (I'm assuming the different thinking modes come with their own language constructs). And that's the big thing that's changed my life around. Specifically, how I pulled off the first two was with a practice I'd do when I'd hear a word with an antonym. I'd shrug and say "meh... ... ...meh." I came up with this practice because I wanted to learn to suspend/minimi…
Would love to check out your book whenever you release it! I think a lot of what you do is similar to the Hindu/Buddhist approach of accepting the moment for what it is, and figuring out what you can learn from every moment and experiencing it without too much emotion attached to it. But you seem to have more practical advice on how to accomplish that, which I look forward to hearing.
If you have any specific questions, I'm available to either share what I've come up with if I think it's applicable or to suggest ideas for things to try. I have a sort of programmatic model of the human I'm playing with, so I consider these practices to be human programs. Trying to generate programs for people that have the desired effects is the only way I have to test the model right now, so it'd be mutually beneficial :)
Re: Ask HN: What are your “brain hacks” that help you manage everyday situations?
#297I depend on philosophy for a lot of things but the one "hack" if you want to call it that has helped me the most (universally) is this
"When you're alone you should call this condition tranquility and freedom, and think of yourself like the gods; and when you are with many, you shouldn't call it a crowd, or trouble, or uneasiness, but festival and company, and contentedly accept it."
-Epictetus
Re: Ask HN: What are your “brain hacks” that help you manage everyday situations?
#298Avoid negativity, Learning to recognize toxic people and situation would be the hack. Then exiting quickly not to return. My life is an order of magnitude better after cutting off two toxic friends and actively avoiding new toxic people and situations.
Re: Ask HN: What are your “brain hacks” that help you manage everyday situations?
#299What always helps me move on from bad decisions is thinking of it like paying for a lesson. If I make a bad decision and it costs me $2000, that lesson cost me $2000. This ensures that I will learn from it and not make it again since the cost was so high. Personally, this helps me not dwell on bad decisions too much as long as I learn and adapt from it. It keeps me looking forward.
Bruhh... This!
Re: Ask HN: What are your “brain hacks” that help you manage everyday situations?
#300My top 3, in order of how I try to apply them (i.e., if 1 doesn't help, move on to 2, etc.). I learned these all from reading various philosophy works, by the way, so perhaps cognitive hack #1 should be "read books". 1) Suspension of judgement (from Sextus Empiricus, Zhuang Zi, Ecclesiastes): avoid forming an opinion at all about things that are not evident. The way I do this is by thinking through an opposing argume…
0) Keeping one's mouth shut. Trying to not have an opinion until a) having enough information b) only voicing it if it is important. I am trying to spend more time perceiving instead of broadcasting.
You should avoid voicing a judgment, but you can certainly air your thoughts and opinions as they arise. Just be open to being convinced.