Following up on Thinkie Hard Problem & Thinkie Easy Bit.
Pattern: you’re paralyzed by the size & complexity of the problem you’re addressing.
Transformation: pick the bit of it that will be the most fun & do that.
This is another confidence/energy management strategy. What would be fun? What have you always wanted to do but haven’t? What’s something you’ve done before that you’ve enjoyed.
Part of the paralysis I feel confronting a big, complicated problem is that I want to do The Best Thing next. Anything I choose to do, I can argue for why it isn’t The Best Thing.
Addressing big, complicated problems is always under-constrained. The information needed to make a perfect, rational decision about what to do next, that information simply doesn’t exist at the moment I’m deciding.
Instead of “best”, I just need to do something that doesn’t hurt the situation & that gives me confidence & energy for the next thing. Optimizing for fun is one way to encourage confidence & energy.
Don’t do the Fun Bit too long. Accomplish something. Share your victory. Then step back & run the Thinkies again.
I find people don't consider often enough that they just don't and won't have enough information to make certain decisions.
Most important decisions in life really.
One thing I've realized that has helped me avoid paralysis is realizing that of I can't decide between two paths, then they are essentially the same given the info I have at the moment. If there isn't more info to be had in a cheap and easy way, choose whichever one you want to.