Your Life is Yours, So Are Your Choices

The world responds to your actions, don't be afraid to be unconventional

“Oh, I have ChatGPT interview ME on a topic I need to explore…”

I confess, my use of AI was evidence of how ineffective it can be. I would ask it questions like it was a search engine, or i’d pursue a summary.

Using AI was on track to make me dumber, stupider, less smart.

I was talking to

Brad Didericksen

who had found his own way to make ADHD useful, and his method would force him to think, to draw out the answers from HIM as opposed to relying on the AI to do the work.

It was brilliant!

This simple switch has allowed me to explore ideas that I wouldn’t think about otherwise. It’s pushed me to pursue a simple thought into more depth, and made me a better thinker.

(We all hate AI, that’s fine. I’m not going to become a Luddite and ignore it completely, though. There is value. I’ve installed local copies, so I can do work on my computer sometimes and not destroy the environment.)

---

Most tools can be used in different ways

Artificial Intelligence is quite versatile in the different ways it can be used, it’s basically a person without agency, so go figure it’s multifaceted. But it’s not the only tool like this.

A hammer can drive nails, it can pull nails, it can be used as blunt force to break things. It’s crude, but it’s a starting point for re-thinking your tools.

I’ve tried to use the Pomodoro technique for being productive, set a timer for 20 minutes, go work and when it’s done, take a break.

I hate the standard Pomodoro plan, a) I do NOT recover well when interrupted and b) I get pissed when I’m pulled out of flow.

While reading someone’s frustration posts about Pomodoro on Reddit recently, someone commented that “You’re doing it wrong” and then detailed their method. What I’m calling a ‘reverse Pomodoro’…

• Set a timer for 5 minutes.

• Tell yourself you only need to work on it for the length of that timer, then you’re done.

• After 5 minutes, say “see, that wasn’t so bad, let’s do it again” and repeat.

This method isn’t about me getting a reward or taking a break after, it’s me shutting up the excuses to not do a thing and just start.

I’ve seen time blocking on a calendar as a means to block interruptions from others, rather than a way to schedule your time. It’s a “leave me alone” option, instead of a “I’ll work on this.”

Jesse J. Anderson

mentions “Eat the Cake” as a strategy in his book, instead of “Swallow the Frog.” Sometimes doing the delicious thing first will draw you into further productivity.

The productivity world is filled with alternate uses for strategies, often created by neurodivergent people that know that conventional wisdom doesn’t work.

---

Social norms aren’t laws, they can be flipped as well

Much of our social behavior is us trying to honor the social contract, or the expected behavior for a situation.

For years, it was normal to wear a suit to work, and a tie. Women had to stay home, but wear a dress and cook the meals. At some point women went to work (I think it was World War II that kicked it off.) At some point everyone got to be casual in their attire (this accelerated with dot com era tech firms.)

Increasingly there is the realization that you don’t have to ‘respect your elders’ just because they’re older, a old dick is still a dick.

I saw a recent post suggesting that it’s ok to severe ties with your family. Just because you were born to someone, if they are trying to control or manipulate you, you should walk away. You should create the family, or tribe, that actually resonates with you and lets you be yourself.

While I strongly encourage people to at least be civil, I think we’re in a place in history where doing what you’re expected does more harm than good. The manipulation of ‘free speech” has created platforms for hate groups.

It’s time to be with ‘your people’ even if it’s an echo chamber. It’s your responsibility to find the group that supports you and builds you up, in spite of what you’re told.

---

Your life is yours, so are your choices

We live in a time of upheaval. Conservative groups are trying to force their version of acceptable behavior onto the masses. Globally, there are so many people suffering under a leader that is trying to run their world with a boot on their neck.

The state of the planet is in check because so many people are looking for a ‘strong man’ to tell them what to do. They’re hoping to have someone bring order to the chaos in their life because they’re scared. There is a frighteningly large group of humans today that think someone else has to make the choices for them.

You’re only here for a limited time, you can cower in fear of the angry masses, you can follow despots like sheep, or you can stand up and make your voice be heard.

As a human, your greatest responsibility is to help other humans, to create a world where we’re all able to build one another up, and where the power hungry are silenced before they can choke the life out of those less obsessed.

---