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"What are you willing to sacrifice?" Framing it this way poisons everything downstream of it. It's unfortunate if the author believes "that" is the "real ques

"What are you willing to sacrifice?" Framing it this way poisons everything downstream of it. It's unfortunate if the author believes "that" is the "real question", but they have plenty of company in self-induced psychological damage of this variety, and thanks to the wonders of modern technology can amplify that damage and share its wonders with billions of people.

all2 3y ago
I'd be curious to hear you expand on this point. I think I see what you're saying, but I'd love a little more detail.
- js4ever 3y ago
  Same here also quite interested in this topic and more details. On my side I believe the more you sacrifice the less you enjoy your goal. I sacrificed a LOT, I reached my goals and more, nothing have taste anymore.
- ergonaught 3y ago
  I can write a book on the topic. I'm attempting to refrain from that. 0) "What do you want" is the question. There isn't a deeper question behind it. Pretending that there is a deeper question is just one of the self-sabotaging ways we avoid answering the question. 1) Investments aren't sacrifices. If you want to, say, lose 50 pounds because of Your Reasons, then you are investing your attention and your non-renewable time in accomplishing what you want by eating/doing things that make that outcome more probable. You are not "sacrificing" chocolate cake and icecream and whatever. 2) You sacrifice things that you actually have/do and which are valuable to you. Since you can't have or do everything, and since things that take you away from what you actually want are not valuable to you, then you aren't "sacrificing" anything when you "give up" things that you couldn't actually have or do, or things that aren't actually valuable. Everything is a choice. Choices involve tradeoffs. That is a fine, rational way to view it if you must view it in some way. Framing it as "sacrifices" dramatically increases the likelihood of failure, poisons your own emotional relationship to the process, and sours your feelings toward the goal itself. In some people it also tends to promote a false narrative that "sacrifices are necessary", but that's heading away from my own goal in commenting. So. :)
pixl97 3y ago
For sure, saying "What are you willing to sacrifice?" without also saying "Don't be an asshole to other people" typically leads to the answer "Everyone and everything"
firecall 3y ago
Yes, it does come across as a rather immature, unenlightened, productivity bro take on life. My reality is that all wants are illusions. So to me it’s all a game. You can’t sacrifice anything ad those other wants and desires were never real in the first place. Take time to be kind to others, go for a walk and then make some tea. Sit quietly at a table and avoid writing sanctimonious blog posts on productivity. ;-)

all2 3y ago

I'd be curious to hear you expand on this point. I think I see what you're saying, but I'd love a little more detail.

js4ever 3y ago
Same here also quite interested in this topic and more details. On my side I believe the more you sacrifice the less you enjoy your goal. I sacrificed a LOT, I reached my goals and more, nothing have taste anymore.
ergonaught 3y ago
I can write a book on the topic. I'm attempting to refrain from that. 0) "What do you want" is the question. There isn't a deeper question behind it. Pretending that there is a deeper question is just one of the self-sabotaging ways we avoid answering the question. 1) Investments aren't sacrifices. If you want to, say, lose 50 pounds because of Your Reasons, then you are investing your attention and your non-renewable time in accomplishing what you want by eating/doing things that make that outcome more probable. You are not "sacrificing" chocolate cake and icecream and whatever. 2) You sacrifice things that you actually have/do and which are valuable to you. Since you can't have or do everything, and since things that take you away from what you actually want are not valuable to you, then you aren't "sacrificing" anything when you "give up" things that you couldn't actually have or do, or things that aren't actually valuable. Everything is a choice. Choices involve tradeoffs. That is a fine, rational way to view it if you must view it in some way. Framing it as "sacrifices" dramatically increases the likelihood of failure, poisons your own emotional relationship to the process, and sours your feelings toward the goal itself. In some people it also tends to promote a false narrative that "sacrifices are necessary", but that's heading away from my own goal in commenting. So. :)

pixl97 3y ago

For sure, saying "What are you willing to sacrifice?" without also saying "Don't be an asshole to other people" typically leads to the answer "Everyone and everything"

firecall 3y ago

Yes, it does come across as a rather immature, unenlightened, productivity bro take on life. My reality is that all wants are illusions. So to me it’s all a game. You can’t sacrifice anything ad those other wants and desires were never real in the first place. Take time to be kind to others, go for a walk and then make some tea. Sit quietly at a table and avoid writing sanctimonious blog posts on productivity. ;-)