I just feel small, insignificant, irrelevant, like all my efforts are ultimately for nothing. What am I doing here studying math at this old age? Maybe I should try and do something more important. I have a tweaking sensation: why should I not try to make next great startup? Well, at my current abilities that is highly unlikely. I feel like a sad fact. I feel aged-out of my prime. I feel like some of my friends will become ultra-successful, and I’ll be here toiling away at irrelevance. It’s an extremely bad mindset to be in. It most definitely doesn’t help me. But what’s the point.
Ok you have to realize WHERE YOUR MOTIVATIONS ARE COMING FROM. Recognize when you are being driven to want something for social status reasons. Think about WHAT YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT. A drive for power? The ability to give an impressive answer when asked “what are you up to”? Being busier than the next guy? Oh what about the “I don’t have time to be socializing with you” move?
Fully imagine yourself in the role the next time you have a spontaneous desire for a new career, or a new personality, or a new lifestyle, maybe even any meaningful change to your life. Is it intrinsically worth it? Would you wake up and want to take on the challenges everyday? Imagine the shitty parts. Imagine how you would feel about yourself when you go to a party with all kinds of other cool people. Does it satisfy your soul?
A software startup could definitely be very satisfying. It could make me rich, and it could be a great look to others. But, I realistically don’t have it in my bones right now (for soo many reasons). MAKE SURE YOUR INTENTIONS ARE PURE. Understand what you are currently doing. Build up on a path—keep an awareness of decades long timescales. Keep level-headed.
does “you are what you can’t stop yourself from doing” help you in this time? Querying your revealed preferences for behavior that is beyond effortless, that it would take effort to not do, can be very informative.
I just feel small, insignificant, irrelevant, like all my efforts are ultimately for nothing. What am I doing here studying math at this old age? Maybe I should try and do something more important. I have a tweaking sensation: why should I not try to make next great startup? Well, at my current abilities that is highly unlikely. I feel like a sad fact. I feel aged-out of my prime. I feel like some of my friends will become ultra-successful, and I’ll be here toiling away at irrelevance. It’s an extremely bad mindset to be in. It most definitely doesn’t help me. But what’s the point.
Ok you have to realize WHERE YOUR MOTIVATIONS ARE COMING FROM. Recognize when you are being driven to want something for social status reasons. Think about WHAT YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT. A drive for power? The ability to give an impressive answer when asked “what are you up to”? Being busier than the next guy? Oh what about the “I don’t have time to be socializing with you” move?
Fully imagine yourself in the role the next time you have a spontaneous desire for a new career, or a new personality, or a new lifestyle, maybe even any meaningful change to your life. Is it intrinsically worth it? Would you wake up and want to take on the challenges everyday? Imagine the shitty parts. Imagine how you would feel about yourself when you go to a party with all kinds of other cool people. Does it satisfy your soul?
A software startup could definitely be very satisfying. It could make me rich, and it could be a great look to others. But, I realistically don’t have it in my bones right now (for soo many reasons). MAKE SURE YOUR INTENTIONS ARE PURE. Understand what you are currently doing. Build up on a path—keep an awareness of decades long timescales. Keep level-headed.
does “you are what you can’t stop yourself from doing” help you in this time? Querying your revealed preferences for behavior that is beyond effortless, that it would take effort to not do, can be very informative.
Bertrand Russell points out productive compulsion as well! Emotional drive to create, or stand up, etc.