Link to article: So you wanna to de-bog yourself?

Non-AI thoughts

The below article really helped to clarify some of my thoughts in the area. I have long been aware of the “activation-energy” problem and something I have tried to mitigate in my own work. I saw this most jarringly when I was made redundant in 2022. I had been unhappy in my role for some time, even looking for new opportunities elsewhere, however it was this big push that was the drive needed to find a new role that got me into the, much better, place I am today.

An area I have instigated is regular retrospectives and planning in my personal life. This may seem excessive but I strongly believe thinking about what our goals are and writing them down can be invaluable when you look at the compounding effect of habits.

I will however take the below to heart, I intend to ensure that I am mindful in my approach to being “stuck” and will strive to put words to these feelings, rather than just feeling out of control.

Summary:

A blogger humorously discusses the psychological “bog” of being stuck and outlines various reasons and solutions for this state, aiming to help readers find their way out.

Ideas:

  • Being stuck is likened to standing knee-deep in a fetid bog, with no clear way out.
  • The blogger humorously notes the absurdity of being asked for advice on flying planes.
  • Insufficient activation energy is identified as a key reason for feeling stuck.
  • Gutterballing involves excelling in the wrong direction, leading to further entrapment.
  • Waiting for a perfect solution, or “jackpot,” keeps people from taking action.
  • Declining the dragon refers to avoiding necessary, albeit scary, actions out of fear.
  • The mediocrity trap keeps people in unsatisfying situations due to lack of frustration.
  • Stroking the problem involves obsessing over its magnitude without seeking solutions.
  • Bad escape plans include flawed strategies that fail to address the root issues.
  • The “try harder” fallacy is criticized for its ineffectiveness in solving problems.
  • The infinite effort illusion assumes an unreal reserve of effort to fix future problems.
  • Blaming external factors like time constraints avoids addressing personal responsibility.
  • Differentiating between diploma problems and toothbrushing problems helps in managing expectations.
  • Fantastical metamorphosis involves unrealistic expectations of personal change without effort.
  • Puppeteering attempts to solve problems by controlling others, which is often futile.
  • Many bogs are self-created, highlighting the importance of perception in feeling stuck.
  • The “floor is lava” game illustrates how we invent unnecessary challenges for ourselves.
  • Super surveillance of global issues can lead to feeling overwhelmed and stuck.
  • Hedgehogging describes the refusal to be influenced by others, even when beneficial.
  • The personal problems growth ray exaggerates one’s own issues while minimizing others'.
  • Obsessing over tiny predictors distracts from addressing significant challenges effectively.
  • Impossible satisfaction stems from a belief that happiness or contentment is unattainable.

Insights:

  • Feeling stuck often results from a combination of insufficient effort and flawed strategies.
  • Fear of taking necessary actions can be more debilitating than the actions themselves.
  • Long-term dissatisfaction often arises from staying in mediocre situations due to fear of change.
  • Identifying and naming the specific ways we feel stuck can lead to actionable solutions.
  • Effort alone is not enough; direction and strategy are crucial for escaping the psychological bog.
  • Externalizing blame for our situations prevents us from taking necessary personal actions.
  • Recognizing the difference between solvable and perpetual problems can guide our efforts more effectively.
  • Unrealistic expectations of self-transformation hinder actual progress and personal growth.
  • Attempting to control others as a solution to personal problems is both futile and misguided.
  • Acknowledging that many of our limitations are self-imposed can be the first step to overcoming them.

Quotes:

  • “Being stuck is the psychological equivalent of standing knee-deep in a fetid bog.”
  • “I scrutinize the captain to see if they have that ‘A blogger taught me how to fly’ kind of look.”
  • “Insufficient activation energy—I can’t muster the brief but extraordinary output of effort it takes to escape the bog.”
  • “Gutterballing: excelling, but in slightly the wrong direction.”
  • “Waiting for jackpot, refusing to do anything until an option arises that dominates all other options on all dimensions.”
  • “Declining the dragon: missing an opportunity to do something that might be scary in the moment but would ultimately make me feel great.”
  • “The mediocrity trap: situations that are bad-but-not-too-bad keep you forever in their orbit.”
  • “Stroking the problem…is just a form of socially acceptable anxiety.”
  • “The ’try harder’ fallacy…as if wishing it to be different would make it so.”
  • “Blaming God: pinning the responsibility for my current predicament on something utterly unchangeable.”
  • “Diploma problems and toothbrushing problems…most problems aren’t like that.”
  • “Fantastical metamorphosis: I’ll just be a different person in the future.”
  • “Puppeteering: trying to solve your problems by controlling the actions of other humans.”
  • “The world doesn’t stick me there; I stick me there.”
  • “Super surveillance is an express ticket to the bog, because the world is full of problems.”

Habits:

  • Regularly identifying and naming personal feelings of being stuck to find solutions.
  • Avoiding taking on projects that don’t align with personal interests or values.
  • Actively seeking out reasonable options instead of waiting for perfect solutions.
  • Embracing necessary risks and confrontations to move forward in life.
  • Recognizing and avoiding the mediocrity trap by seeking fulfilling opportunities.
  • Spending time reflecting on problems with the intention of finding solutions, not just dwelling on them.
  • Challenging oneself to escape bad escape plans through better planning and execution.
  • Rejecting the try harder fallacy by setting realistic goals and strategies.
  • Acknowledging the limits of personal effort and focusing on prioritizing tasks effectively.
  • Refusing to blame external factors for personal predicaments and focusing on actionable changes.
  • Distinguishing between different types of problems to apply appropriate solutions.
  • Avoiding unrealistic expectations of personal change without effort or action.
  • Resisting attempts to control others as a means of solving personal issues.
  • Recognizing self-imposed limitations and working towards overcoming them.

Facts:

  • People often feel stuck due to insufficient activation energy, bad escape plans, or self-imposed limitations.
  • Gutterballing is a common phenomenon where individuals excel in slightly the wrong direction.
  • Waiting for a perfect solution without downsides is an unrealistic approach that keeps people stuck.
  • Declining necessary actions out of fear can lead to prolonged suffering and missed opportunities for growth.
  • The mediocrity trap captures individuals in unsatisfying situations due to lack of sufficient frustration to leave.
  • Stroking the problem involves obsessing over its magnitude without actively seeking solutions.
  • The try harder fallacy and infinite effort illusion are ineffective strategies for escaping feeling stuck.
  • Blaming unchangeable external factors like time constraints avoids addressing personal responsibility in situations.
  • Problems can be categorized into diploma problems (solvable) and toothbrushing problems (ongoing).
  • Fantastical metamorphosis and puppeteering are flawed escape plans based on unrealistic expectations or attempts to control others.

One-sentence Takeaway:

Identifying specific reasons you feel stuck can illuminate actionable paths out of psychological bogs.

Recommendations:

  • Regularly assess if you’re gutterballing and realign efforts with true goals and values.
  • Challenge yourself to take necessary actions, even if they seem daunting at first glance.
  • Evaluate if you’re trapped in mediocrity and consider making bold changes for fulfillment.
  • Spend time actively seeking solutions rather than merely dwelling on problem magnitudes.
  • Avoid falling into bad escape plans by critically assessing your strategies for moving forward.