{"id":18775,"date":"2024-06-03T19:03:43","date_gmt":"2024-06-03T19:03:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/?p=18775"},"modified":"2024-06-04T22:11:09","modified_gmt":"2024-06-04T22:11:09","slug":"ulysses-pacts-stop-believing-in-yourself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/everything-else\/ulysses-pacts-stop-believing-in-yourself\/","title":{"rendered":"Ulysses Pacts: STOP believing in yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week, I downloaded a new video game to play.<\/span><\/p>\n

And 30 minutes later, I uninstalled the game. Not because I didn\u2019t like the game, but specifically because I liked the game <\/span>too much.<\/span><\/i> The game is called <\/span>Dave the Diver<\/span><\/i>, where you are a SCUBA Diver\/Sushi restaurant owner. You spend each day diving and catching fish, and then each evening serving sushi at the restaurant.<\/span><\/p>\n

This game pressed every biological button my brain has for \u201cefficiency.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

My brain told me I had to execute each dive as efficiently as possible. Each night at the restaurant meant I needed to receive a 100% customer satisfaction rating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, nothing would happen if I didn\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n

But this game + my brain equaled a recipe for addictive disaster. After 30 minutes I knew if I didn\u2019t delete it, I would spend every possible minute playing the game, and every minute <\/span>not playing<\/span><\/i> would be spent thinking about how to get more efficient at the game.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Animated<\/p>\n

Because I\u2019m in the middle of writing a secret-book-shaped-project that I can\u2019t talk about\u2026 I knew I needed to save Future Steve.<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, it was time to channel an ancient strategy for survival:<\/b><\/p>\n

A \u201cUlysses Pact.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a Ulysses Pact?<\/b><\/h2>\n

In Homer\u2019s <\/span>Odyssey<\/span><\/i>, Ulysses (also known as \u201cOdysseus\u201d) is about to sail past a dangerous island of Sirens who sing beautiful music. This music is so beautiful that anybody who hears it loses all control, and will sail toward the island, crashing their boat on the rocks surrounding the island.<\/span><\/p>\n

Luckily, our boy Uylsses has been advised by the witch Circe on the only way he and his men can survive. In Madelline Miller\u2019s<\/span> \u200b<\/span>Circe<\/span><\/i>\u200b<\/span><\/a>,<\/span><\/i> she recounts the advice Circe gives the captain:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201c[For] the Sirens, there you may use your tricks. Fill your men\u2019s ears with wax, and leave your own free. If you tie yourself to the mast, you may be the first man to ever hear their song and tell the tale.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

As author Corey Doctorow points out in<\/b> \u200b<\/span>a recent newsletter<\/b>\u200b<\/span><\/a>:<\/b><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cUlysses was strong enough to know that he would someday be weak. He expressed his strength by guarding against his weakness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you take some possibility off the table during a moment of strength in recognition of some coming moment of weakness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In other words, sometimes giving up on yourself is the most courageous thing you can do. It asks you to accept your weaknesses, and make a strategic pre-planned decision to protect against them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ulysses Pacts In My Life<\/b><\/h2>\n

I am a comical disaster trapped in the body of an adult who pretends to be a functioning member of society. <\/b>I am also my own boss, completely in control of my time. Yikes.<\/span><\/p>\n

I struggle with impulse control. There are certain experiences that I am just incapable of doing \u201ca little bit.\u201d I also know that once I start an enjoyable activity, it will take over.<\/span><\/p>\n

Which means it\u2019s practically impossible for me to only do some things \u201cjust a little bit\u201d and then say \u201cokay that\u2019s enough for today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After all, I know my brain isn\u2019t equipped to handle the life of abundance we\u2019re surrounded with: endless distraction, hedonistic enjoyment, unlimited food, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

E.O. Wilson said it best:<\/b><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe real problem of humanity is the following: We have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions and godlike technology.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Rather than lament my lack of willpower when it comes to addictive technology, I<\/span> \u200b<\/span>practice acceptance<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/a> and instead make willpower unnecessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thus, my life is held together with spit, duct tape, and Ulysses Pacts:<\/b><\/p>\n