That twinge is something like anxiety. Consider this: for some the same task could be fun that for others is working. Why do you feel a twinge for a particular task? Because there’s something at stake. So there’s fear. And what’s funny is the task itself doesn’t even have to be the one you fear. It only has to be associatively related. For example, I might avoid the usually fun task of checking my e-mail because of a difficult one I keep putting off writing. (This is called Relational Frame Theory.) Or, put off an only slightly uncomfortable work task because it connects to a larger one that scares me.
“Reading internet articles” is avoidance.
There are many tricks. Fear is is a wall 1000 miles wide and a mile high, but only tissue paper thin. A la Harry Potter running through the brick wall to the train station.
The trouble can be even recognizing that you’re doing it—avoiding. Mindfulness & meditation have been helpful for me, but a lot of things can do it. Beating yourself up, making lists, and dopamine-fueled planning seem reasonable until they don’t work for the 1000th time.
For example, I might avoid the usually fun task of checking my e-mail because of a difficult one I keep putting off writing. (This is called Relational Frame Theory.) Or, put off an only slightly uncomfortable work task because it connects to a larger one that scares me.
This seems like a consequence of the connectionist paradigm of the mind. According to this theory, we are literally hardwired to build associations in this manner.
I’m on board but frame it differently.
Here’s my frame:
That twinge is something like anxiety. Consider this: for some the same task could be fun that for others is working. Why do you feel a twinge for a particular task? Because there’s something at stake. So there’s fear. And what’s funny is the task itself doesn’t even have to be the one you fear. It only has to be associatively related. For example, I might avoid the usually fun task of checking my e-mail because of a difficult one I keep putting off writing. (This is called Relational Frame Theory.) Or, put off an only slightly uncomfortable work task because it connects to a larger one that scares me.
“Reading internet articles” is avoidance.
There are many tricks. Fear is is a wall 1000 miles wide and a mile high, but only tissue paper thin. A la Harry Potter running through the brick wall to the train station.
The trouble can be even recognizing that you’re doing it—avoiding. Mindfulness & meditation have been helpful for me, but a lot of things can do it. Beating yourself up, making lists, and dopamine-fueled planning seem reasonable until they don’t work for the 1000th time.
“Fear is is a wall 1000 miles wide and a mile high, but only tissue paper thin.”
Goes into my quotes file!
This seems like a consequence of the connectionist paradigm of the mind. According to this theory, we are literally hardwired to build associations in this manner.