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It’s really interesting how we shy away from some “hard” things, even though there is literally nothing at stake that could prevent us from doing them. Nothing

It’s really interesting how we shy away from some “hard” things, even though there is literally nothing at stake that could prevent us from doing them. Nothing life-threatening, no (or minimal) risk of physical or psychological damage, no social exclusion, no irreversable decisions about the future to make. Why can’t we just try/do it – what are we so afraid of? Many people (especially those in a lucky environment) can just try to draw realistically (which is actually not that hard, given a good teacher/instruction), study a “hard” topic in philosophy, get good at playing a “hard” song on an instrument or even learn how to prove mathematical statements or how to model and analyze complex systems. We can just try, there is nothing at stake except our time and energy. When something is really interesting to me, I try not to stop myself from pursuing it just because it is considered “hard”. I have many mental issues (executive dysfunction, bad memory, etc.) but I am also stubborn and curious enough to try anything, again and again if I have to, which I never regretted. It doesn’t hurt and it can be so much fun with a humble and relaxed attitude and especially if I don’t try to compare myself to others, which might be one of the main things that is holding most of us back.

throwawybb1 3y ago
> It’s really interesting how we shy away from some “hard” things, even though there is literally nothing at stake that could prevent us from doing them. Nothing life-threatening, no (or minimal) risk of physical or psychological damage, no social exclusion, no irreversable decisions about the future to make. Why can’t we just try/do it – what are we so afraid of? Heh, I don't know about that. I got into motorcycles because of how dangerous they are. When I was just learning dirt riding I specifically picked out an old barely used logging road to do so. It's 2 hours from the nearest town, about 40 miles long winding road with a sheer drop on either side. Getting there is tiring in of itself. Every time I started it, I was already fatigued from the ride out and I just go straight in without a break. But there's very little room of error. There's no cellular service, traffic is almost non existent. I don't tell my family when I got out there or where I am exactly. If I overcook a corner, loose focus for more then a second, fail to spot where the road's been eroded out, make just one little fatigued induced mistake... that's it. There's no getting out. There's no help coming. They won't even have my body to bury. Finding the strength to crank the throttle wide open and hold it open right until the last millisecond before disaster is hard as hell when every instinct is screaming to slow down. But in many ways, it's easier then trying to make friends or ask a someone out on a date. If and when I do make that fatal mistake, I don't have live with the knowledge that I screwed up a relationship or have to live with the regret what may or may not have not have been. Or worse; disappointing those who's opinion has weight. Dying is easy. Living with the consequences is hard.

throwawybb1 3y ago

> It’s really interesting how we shy away from some “hard” things, even though there is literally nothing at stake that could prevent us from doing them. Nothing life-threatening, no (or minimal) risk of physical or psychological damage, no social exclusion, no irreversable decisions about the future to make. Why can’t we just try/do it – what are we so afraid of? Heh, I don't know about that. I got into motorcycles because of how dangerous they are. When I was just learning dirt riding I specifically picked out an old barely used logging road to do so. It's 2 hours from the nearest town, about 40 miles long winding road with a sheer drop on either side. Getting there is tiring in of itself. Every time I started it, I was already fatigued from the ride out and I just go straight in without a break. But there's very little room of error. There's no cellular service, traffic is almost non existent. I don't tell my family when I got out there or where I am exactly. If I overcook a corner, loose focus for more then a second, fail to spot where the road's been eroded out, make just one little fatigued induced mistake... that's it. There's no getting out. There's no help coming. They won't even have my body to bury. Finding the strength to crank the throttle wide open and hold it open right until the last millisecond before disaster is hard as hell when every instinct is screaming to slow down. But in many ways, it's easier then trying to make friends or ask a someone out on a date. If and when I do make that fatal mistake, I don't have live with the knowledge that I screwed up a relationship or have to live with the regret what may or may not have not have been. Or worse; disappointing those who's opinion has weight. Dying is easy. Living with the consequences is hard.