Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

The illusion of being stuck

the-simulation-strategists.beehiiv.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 119 posts

Re: The illusion of being stuck

#81

Post by mistermann »

noufalibrahim wrote: post #15

I've come across these kinds of articles before and they always seem to suggest that you rewrite the metaphorical firmware of your brain so that it operates in a way that is advantageous to you. There's some notion of self discovery from first principles. I'm not convinced that this is generally a good idea. It makes a person unmoored and open to anything ("so open minded that your brains fall out"). It's also often…

> I've come across these kinds of articles before and they always seem to suggest that you rewrite the metaphorical firmware of your brain so that it operates in a way that is advantageous to you. There's some notion of self discovery from first principles.

> I'm not convinced that this is generally a good idea. It makes a person unmoored and open to anything ("so open minded that your brains fall out"). It's also often amoral. The only metric that's maximised is utility regardless of other more subtle consequences.

I'd say you could benefit from a firmware rewrite yourself, because it isn't possible for you to know these things, because they are unknowable.

> As I grow older, i think the human experience is more complex than can be captured by a few "hacks" like this.

Or yours.

As Terence McKenna liked to say:

- Reality is not only stranger than we imagine, it's stranger than we CAN imagine.

- What we call reality is in fact nothing more than a culturally sanctioned and linguistically reinforced hallucination. (A bit off, but close enough.)

Re: The illusion of being stuck

#82

Post by indigoabstract »

Every time I read about these mind hacks that are supposed to transform your life and attitude, I'm reminded of the Novelty effect:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novelty_effect

It's the best thing ever, until you get used to it, than it becomes the same old. Sometimes I think the human race is completely ruled by this effect, ever chasing the next new thing as it seems so much better than the boring old thing.

Re: The illusion of being stuck

#83

Post by mimischi »

copperx wrote: post #75
spxneo wrote: post #74

If you feel stuck it means you need new habits because the old ones are not serving you well! Program your environment, set up commitment devices to lock in your future behaviour that is positive and effortless. Do not ever set goals, they are high-risk low pay off mental bets that will eat you if you fail (odds are against you).

What is an example of a commitment device?

This might be cliche, but if you can afford to (time and money), have a go at „Atomic Habits“ by James Clear. It’s an easy and enjoyable read, that outlines a framework of how you can build new habits and get rid of your old, unwanted ones.

Re: The illusion of being stuck

#84

Post by try_the_bass »

noufalibrahim wrote: post #24
haswell wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My perspective on this is one of a person who underwent years of complex trauma in childhood and my stuck-ness was a series of overly sensitive protective mechanisms that had been built up by the experience. “The illusion of being stuck” also sounds a lot like “Learned Helplessness”, which is a maladaptive conditioning of the brain to strongly believe that not doing something is the best option because doing somethin…

That's a very nuanced take. I dont take offense to using "techniques" to fix "problems". I'm more annoyed by the usual phrasing of these things as life changing and revelatory.

> I'm more annoyed by the usual phrasing of these things as life changing and revelatory.

But when they work for someone, they can and do lead to important revelations and/or life changes.

I'm a firm believer in one's ability to "reprogram" themselves, having done it to varying degrees across the span of my life. Perhaps it doesn't work for everyone. It doesn't always work for myself, especially when life makes the required self-discipline hard to maintain.

I'm biased by my own success, obviously.

Re: The illusion of being stuck

#85

Post by spxneo »

mimischi wrote: post #83
copperx wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is an example of a commitment device?

This might be cliche, but if you can afford to (time and money), have a go at „Atomic Habits“ by James Clear. It’s an easy and enjoyable read, that outlines a framework of how you can build new habits and get rid of your old, unwanted ones.

yeah pretty much thats where all my quotes are from

i recommend this book to everyone i meet

it is life changing

Re: The illusion of being stuck

#86

Post by paulgerhardt »

mimischi wrote: post #83
copperx wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is an example of a commitment device?

This might be cliche, but if you can afford to (time and money), have a go at „Atomic Habits“ by James Clear. It’s an easy and enjoyable read, that outlines a framework of how you can build new habits and get rid of your old, unwanted ones.

If "Atomic Habits" doesn't sit with you (I found the endless anecdotes about the author's high school baseball career detracting) I recommend "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals" - it's slightly less targeted to fans of Ryan Holiday/Tim Ferris and slightly more targeted to productivity hack tooling reformed/burnt-out individuals.

Re: The illusion of being stuck

#87

Post by spxneo »

paulgerhardt wrote: post #86
mimischi wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This might be cliche, but if you can afford to (time and money), have a go at „Atomic Habits“ by James Clear. It’s an easy and enjoyable read, that outlines a framework of how you can build new habits and get rid of your old, unwanted ones.

If "Atomic Habits" doesn't sit with you (I found the endless anecdotes about the author's high school baseball career detracting) I recommend "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals" - it's slightly less targeted to fans of Ryan Holiday/Tim Ferris and slightly more targeted to productivity hack tooling reformed/burnt-out individuals.

he only talks about his experience through his rehabilitation in the first chapter the rest of the book he draws from real world examples from other industries and history to illustrate the specific point. i think they are very practical as it is easier to remember stories than recalling step by step points

Re: The illusion of being stuck

#88

Post by soneca »

maxverse wrote: post #40
noufalibrahim wrote: post #15

I've come across these kinds of articles before and they always seem to suggest that you rewrite the metaphorical firmware of your brain so that it operates in a way that is advantageous to you. There's some notion of self discovery from first principles. I'm not convinced that this is generally a good idea. It makes a person unmoored and open to anything ("so open minded that your brains fall out"). It's also often…

The difference between medicine in poison is the dose ("the dose makes the poison.") Good ideas taken to extreme are often Very Bad, but sometimes a little bit of the idea is exactly what you need. If you have social anxiety, talking to people through discomfort, or initially treating interactions as a game can help take the pressure off. Treating people as NPCs is unhealthy. Routine exercise is good. Becoming obsess…

I on the side that the complexity is even larger than this. There a lot of other analogies that could apply here, not just the dose/poison one.

Some things are good in small doses on some occasions and in large doses on others. Some things are poison for some people but food for others. Some things are only medicine in very specific circumstances. Some things are placebo.

Anyone can decide if a piece of advice is beneficial to them in what dose. But I agree with the GP that we are too complex for these hacks

Re: The illusion of being stuck

#89

Post by maxverse »

knallfrosch wrote: post #77
card_zero wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you know, the brain is hard-wired to be suckered by self-help books? One trick that I personally find very liberating and enlightening is to make a big pile of such material and burn it. It gives me a sense of warmth and inner joy.

I enjoy reading them, thinking I'll change myself. Then I'm done, I don't apply anything and put the book on the shelf. It's its own kind of horror for these books.

This is an interesting topic of its own, but there have been a few books/ideas that have made a significant difference on how I operate day-to-day. There are many more books and ideas I nod along to and never implement.

Re: The illusion of being stuck

#90

Post by benoitmalige »

lgvld wrote: post #64
benoitmalige wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well said. And for clarification, it was not a job but the business I started 6 years ago. More rencent update: The trip gave me a new perspective and I shifted the business model, rather than shutting it down.

Would you tell me more about it, please? I sometimes feel like I am in the same position as you were: > I had the uncomfortable conversation with my business partner to tell them I no longer have passion for it and am leaving them the decision to continue or quit. When I feel burned out and/or unpassionate by my work, I automatically think about leaving it behind and move on, but after some rest (and discussion) I us…

First off, thank you for your comment, and your compliment is very much appreciated.

I can relate to what you're describing and can only speak from my own journey. The recurring thought of needing change haunted me for years. Financial stability did play a crucial role in allowing me the flexibility to make significant changes. One of the toughest challenges was the idea of letting go of something I had poured so much into over the years.

Before launching my business 6 years ago, I faced a similar crossroads while feeling trapped in an unsatisfying job. With just three months of savings, I took the leap into starting my company, which, fortunately, turned out well. It underscores that there isn't a universal solution; it really depends on each individual's circumstances.

What pushed me to start writing this newsletter was a profound sense of lacking purpose. That feeling of purposelessness eventually outweighed the fear of stepping away from the business I had built.

I hope sharing this provides some clarity.

Post reply on HN