HACKER Q&A
📣 kite_and_code

When or how do people change their thoughts and preferences?


When or how do people change their thoughts and preferences?


  👤 ge96 Accepted Answer ✓
Not sure what kind of answer you're looking for. As a data point (guy in later 20's not rich/low status) I changed later in college. I used to be this blissfully unaware JA and then became introverted. I miss the younger me in a way because I had this delusional positive optimism and nowadays everything is just sad/bad I'm like a jaded old man. Now that I can build almost anything web-related I don't have the crazy ideas like I used to (which in retrospect where stupid).

Mostly just cringe moments in my life/I thankfully became more self aware. Like all the things I used to post publicly on social media back in the early 2010's.

edit: there is one thing, back then I was barely on the internet. Nowadays I'm like 90% of my life on it, if I'm not sleeping/eating/something else. Not blaming the internet but eventually I will disconnect. Not 100% I just mean do more than write code/sit in front of a computer all day.

I will also note I am the type to conform (people have to like me, prefers upvotes) something I'm trying to get over/be more unique (although not be an AH).

The other thing is letting go of fear, in the future I have to travel this third world country and when that time comes I have to be unafraid/let go. I don't know what will happen then. I'll get liquid/purge my belongings before leaving the country or store some things anyway long term.


👤 inphovore
When they must.

Comfort and convenience breeds complicity within us.

A certain amount of what conventional society accepts as normal is a civilized mesh of self deception and lies.

Thoughts and preferences are more like chemistry than a decision support matrix.

To change outcomes, reactions must change. To change reactions potentials must change. To change potentials ingredients and work must be added.

Aren’t you glad you’re amusing yourself in some other way?

People who become their own masters learn to change themselves. Reflect, plan, prepare, and do the work.

And this will only come of an imperative beyond sublime comfort and convenience