Subskill: Analyze the underlying reasons why you’re trying to rationalize for or against something—why a conclusion feels required, or disallowed.
Important subskill: Notice when a candidate “the reason I’m trying to rationalize something” is a poor guess or itself a rationalization—when it’s a guess that sounds plausible about someone like you in your position, but doesn’t seem to ring true.
Exercise: Pretend you are your evil alter ego when analyzing the reasons for your rationalization. What would your alter ego say about your rationalization? Your alter ego will probably come up with some selfish, lazy or just plain silly reasons for your rationalization. Once you have this list see the section on how to accept the truth.
Subskill: Analyze the underlying reasons why you’re trying to rationalize for or against something—why a conclusion feels required, or disallowed.
Important subskill: Notice when a candidate “the reason I’m trying to rationalize something” is a poor guess or itself a rationalization—when it’s a guess that sounds plausible about someone like you in your position, but doesn’t seem to ring true.
Exercise: Pretend you are your evil alter ego when analyzing the reasons for your rationalization. What would your alter ego say about your rationalization? Your alter ego will probably come up with some selfish, lazy or just plain silly reasons for your rationalization. Once you have this list see the section on how to accept the truth.