At times, you may get stuck. To get out of it, switch to a "meta" task, meaning shift to a more abstract layer of a problem such as figuring out why you're stuck.

For example, if you are writing an essay and don't know what to write, switching to a meta task would mean writing about how...

Here’s a cold question: what is your most important task of the day?

Don’t think about it. Just answer.

Most people will blunder to give me a fast answer. They will provide more options. Or, they will try to justify their choice. But my question was simple:

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• Anxiety surfaces when we're wanting something outside our control. Getting worked up, getting excited, nervously pacing - these intense, pained, and anxious moments show us at our most futile and servile. Staring at the clock, at the sky - it's as if we all belong to a religious cult that be...