Final week, I downloaded a brand new online game to play.
And half-hour later, I uninstalled the sport. Not as a result of I didn’t like the sport, however particularly as a result of I favored the sport an excessive amount of. The sport known as Dave the Diver, the place you’re a SCUBA Diver/Sushi restaurant proprietor. You spend every day diving and catching fish, after which every night serving sushi on the restaurant.
This sport pressed each organic button my mind has for “effectivity.”
My mind advised me I needed to execute every dive as effectively as potential. Every evening on the restaurant meant I wanted to obtain a 100% buyer satisfaction ranking.
After all, nothing would occur if I didn’t.
However this sport + my mind equaled a recipe for addictive catastrophe. After half-hour I knew if I didn’t delete it, I might spend each potential minute enjoying the sport, and each minute not enjoying could be spent enthusiastic about tips on how to get extra environment friendly on the sport.
As a result of I’m in the midst of writing a secret-book-shaped-project that I can’t speak about… I knew I wanted to save lots of Future Steve.
In different phrases, it was time to channel an historical technique for survival:
A “Ulysses Pact.”
What’s a Ulysses Pact?
In Homer’s Odyssey, Ulysses (often known as “Odysseus”) is about to sail previous a harmful island of Sirens who sing lovely music. This music is so lovely that anyone who hears it loses all management, and can sail towards the island, crashing their boat on the rocks surrounding the island.
Fortunately, our boy Uylsses has been suggested by the witch Circe on the one means he and his males can survive. In Madelline Miller’s Circe, she recounts the recommendation Circe provides the captain:
“[For] the Sirens, there chances are you’ll use your tips. Fill your males’s ears with wax, and depart your personal free. For those who tie your self to the mast, chances are you’ll be the primary man to ever hear their music and inform the story.”
As creator Corey Doctorow factors out in a latest e-newsletter:
“Ulysses was sturdy sufficient to know that he would sometime be weak. He expressed his energy by guarding in opposition to his weak spot.
“If you take some risk off the desk throughout a second of energy in recognition of some coming second of weak spot.”
In different phrases, generally giving up on your self is probably the most brave factor you are able to do. It asks you to just accept your weaknesses, and make a strategic pre-planned choice to guard in opposition to them.
Ulysses Pacts In My Life
I’m a comical catastrophe trapped within the physique of an grownup who pretends to be a functioning member of society. I’m additionally my very own boss, fully in command of my time. Yikes.
I battle with impulse management. There are particular experiences that I’m simply incapable of doing “somewhat bit.” I additionally know that when I begin an pleasurable exercise, it is going to take over.
Which implies it’s virtually unattainable for me to solely do some issues “just a bit bit” after which say “okay that’s sufficient for as we speak.”
In spite of everything, I do know my mind isn’t geared up to deal with the lifetime of abundance we’re surrounded with: limitless distraction, hedonistic enjoyment, limitless meals, and many others.
E.O. Wilson stated it greatest:
“The true drawback of humanity is the next: Now we have Paleolithic feelings, medieval establishments and godlike expertise.”
Fairly than lament my lack of willpower in the case of addictive expertise, I follow acceptance and as an alternative make willpower pointless.
Thus, my life is held along with spit, duct tape, and Ulysses Pacts:
- I’ve an app on my telephone referred to as Opal. It mechanically prompts at 7AM and blocks sure apps, web sites, and all social media for a lot of the hours of the work day. I nonetheless choose up my telephone 10-20 occasions per day and attempt to open these apps, after which I’m reminded to get again to work.
- I exploit a program on my laptop referred to as Focus. It mechanically prompts at 7AM and blocks virtually ANYTHING enjoyable or distracting on my laptop till the tip of the work day.
- I don’t preserve snacks in my home. I really like snacks. And as soon as a bag is open, it will get eaten. However once I’m sitting on the sofa watching TV (I simply completed Fallout and beloved it), and I’m craving a snack, there’s no choice to be made. I’m definitely not going to drive to the shop.
- I don’t have any video games on my telephone. I do know that I can’t management any impulses, particularly for “gatcha” free video games that encourage you to purchase gems to degree up.
- I’m locked out of every social media app after quarter-hour each day. Social Media has been designed by behavioral scientists, with billions of {dollars}, to be as addictive as potential. So I don’t attempt to “use it just a bit bit.” I merely don’t let myself use it for any longer than “somewhat bit” as a result of I’m actually locked out.
- I don’t play multiplayer video games. I’ve no regulation round “okay I’m completed,” so I not play multiplayer video games. I guess if I performed World of Warcraft, you’d by no means get one other e-newsletter from me. Thus, I solely play single participant video games with a narrative or narrative.
- I mechanically donate to 2 charities each month: ProPublica investigative journalism and the Nashville Meals Kitchen. Each of those selections have been made ONCE, which implies I by no means have to recollect to donate, nor am I tempted to spend the cash as soon as it hits my account.
- Each time I am going to the physician, dermatologist, or dentist, I all the time schedule my subsequent appointment whereas I’m there. As a result of I do know I’ll neglect to take action months later, or I’ll inform myself I don’t want to go. Future Steve will not need to get his enamel cleaned or get bloodwork completed.
- My exercises are pre-scheduled in my calendar. I might a lot somewhat not work out, however I do know if I don’t plan for them in my calendar, one thing else much more enjoyable (however much less helpful) will take their place.
The one purpose you get this text each week, and the one purpose I get to the health club just a few occasions per week (along with profitable the genetic and environmental lottery), is due to these Ulysses Pacts.
Right here’s how you should utilize them in your personal life.
You-lysses Pacts in Motion
Returning to Corey Doctorow:
“Ulysses pacts aren’t good, however they’re crucial. On the very least, making a Ulysses pact begins with acknowledging that you’re fallible. That you would be able to be tempted, and rationalize your means into taking dangerous motion, even when higher.
Turning into an grownup is a means of studying that your energy comes from seeing your weaknesses and defending your self and the individuals who belief you from them.”
Let’s see how we are able to add some Ulysses Pacts to your life.
To create your personal Ulysses Pact: search for alternatives to decide TODAY in a second of energy, to safeguard your self in opposition to an anticipated second of weak spot TOMORROW.
Even higher, search for alternatives to decide as soon as, and it prevents you from needing to make use of willpower to repeatedly do the best factor sooner or later.
A number of extra examples:
- Determine to not preserve problematic meals in the home as soon as, and also you don’t need to spend all evening, each evening, deciding NOT to eat these meals.
- Determine to mechanically donate to a trigger you like as soon as, and also you don’t have to recollect to not spend that cash on one thing else and donate every month.
- Delete and/or block social media and time-wasting video games in your telephone as soon as, and instantly the choice to learn a guide or go for a stroll somewhat than mindlessly scroll by way of TikTok or Instagram turns into a lot simpler.
Keep in mind, acknowledging and creating safeguards in opposition to our weaknesses isn’t an indication of giving up or weak spot.
It’s a brave signal of acceptance.
It’s additionally sensible.
What are the Ulysses Pacts you employ in your personal life? Did this text encourage you to create one for your self?
Attain out and let me know!
-Steve
