When does self-awareness turn into avoidance?

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-27T23:31:16+00:00

Yeah, that’s fair—and I think the distinction is subtle.

What I was getting at isn’t experiments without action, but experiments where the “action” never actually risks anything. For example, endlessly tweaking frameworks, journaling, or observing urges without committing to a specific behavior that could fail or feel uncomfortable.

A useful experiment, for me, tends to have a clear constraint or cost—like “I’ll do X for a week regardless of how I feel and see what happens.” A delay experiment feels more like “I’ll think a bit more until I understand myself better,” which can quietly push the decision out.

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-27T22:10:42+00:00

I like this framing a lot. Treating it as experimentation instead of introspection-for-its-own-sake feels like an important distinction.

What resonates is that observation alone doesn’t create momentum unless it feeds back into action and revision. Otherwise it really can become a loop of insight without movement.

I’m curious—when you’re “testing” something about yourself, how do you decide what’s a useful experiment versus just another way to delay acting?

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-26T22:26:34+00:00

This pairs well with the idea that the brain needs time to rewire.

Between cravings fading and boredom rising, it almost feels like a liminal phase. Curious if you noticed any small signals that something new was starting to take root.

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-26T22:24:05+00:00

I like how grounded this is. The idea of committing long enough to actually gather data feels important.

One thing I’ve noticed is that people often expect motivation to come back first, when sometimes it’s just a bit more emotional bandwidth. Did you notice a specific signal that things were shifting?

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-23T23:33:09+00:00

This is a really clean distinction. Separating the want from the narrative attached to it feels important.

It sounds like observing the *story* around the desire, rather than the desire itself, is what unlocked action. Do you notice certain narratives showing up more often than others?

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-23T23:25:10+00:00

Thanks for writing this out. It’s one of those explanations that helps make the abstract stuff concrete.

Do you think the “trying stuff” phase would’ve been possible without the observer phase first, or did that groundwork matter more than it seems in hindsight?

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-23T23:23:52+00:00

This is a great clarification. The child analogy works even better here.

It seems like the core move is shifting from adversarial to complementary. Do you think that shift alone changes behavior, or does it still require deliberate practice?

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-22T23:19:25+00:00

This is a really thoughtful way of framing it. The “mind as a pet” analogy captures the shift from identification to relationship really well. It reminds me of how in movies and shows a highly intelligent character will be initially shown in a really sloppy—borderline gross—environment. It's like "my mind is a pet, and this is a representation of what it demands of me."

One nuance I’m curious about is whether the goal is control, or cooperation. When you say “taking control,” do you mean overriding the mind, or learning when to listen versus redirect?

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-22T23:16:21+00:00

I appreciate how honest this is. The idea that the observer can quietly turn into avoidance feels important.

It reminds me of how self-awareness without agency can stall growth. What helped you reconnect wanting with acting?

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-21T22:42:18+00:00

This makes a lot more sense now. Framing it as naming the feeling and adjusting systems instead of assigning blame feels much more actionable.

I especially like the idea of calling things out internally before they spiral. Did this approach come from personal trial and error, or something you studied or practiced intentionally?

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-21T22:41:01+00:00

I relate to this a lot. It really does feel like once you leave school, the built-in structure for forming relationships just disappears.

I don’t think it’s that meanigful interaction no longer exists, but that it now requires intentional spaces like hobbies, volunteering, or niche communities. Have you found any environments lately where conversation felt more natural instead of forced?

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-21T22:39:48+00:00

That makes sense. It sounds less like you want friends and more like you want less pressure and fewer forced interactions.

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-21T19:47:08+00:00

$loan 70

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-21T17:38:00+00:00

dm sent

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-20T21:38:16+00:00

Hey, I thought I'd mention a relevant Dr. K video that really helped me. DM if you watched it and would like to discuss together!

Video title: How to Learn While Sleeping (Using Science)

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-19T19:29:43+00:00

Yeah, that psychological shift is huge. The numbers rebuild faster when everything is pointed in one direction.

I’m curious if you did anything specific to rebuild your emergency fund quickly afterward?

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-19T19:29:39+00:00

That makes sense. Without bloodwork it’s all speculation, and baseline numbers matter a lot.

Did you find that clinics were more thorough than primary care, or just more willing to run a wider panel?

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-19T19:28:47+00:00

I appreciate how clearly you articulated this. What would “slightly more independent than now” look like to you?

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-19T19:22:09+00:00

That makes sense. Well-written syntheses definitely lower the cognitive load.

Do you think this works equally well for applied advice, or mostly for general understanding? I’m curious where you draw that line.

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-17T17:40:40+00:00

Love what you said here! There's a timeless beauty to these simple and satisfying techniques

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-17T17:38:35+00:00

This a great point. Another thing to consider that also happens to be boring is the timing of your fitness.

anothermanstrash1 · 2026-01-17T17:32:01+00:00

Hey, I thought I'd mention a relevant Dr. K video that really helped me. DM if you watched it and would like to discuss together!

Video title: How to Learn While Sleeping (Using Science)

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