The role of education
An individual can be changed through education.
We have so little control over the biology that determines our desires. But the part of our biology that is more malleable is our brain.
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We associate this process with some sort of "will" or "willpower", though what these really mean is not that obvious.
The difficulty thus lies in delaying gratification.
But the most immediate cause of any of our actions can be traced back to our brain activity.
Some specific cues found in our environment hint to a potential reward and dopamine starts to raise anticipation. So dopamine is the one responsible to make us take action towards a specific goal.
To change a habit, both we and the environment have to change, and that's why self-discipline is so hard.
By acknowledging this, we can start finding alternative opportunities for learning and for satisfying our needs.
RELATED IDEAS
Thinking from first principles is not a new idea. It's actually the single most consistent factor among great thinkers.
For example, Aristotle believed that you could not possess true knowledge without first understanding the first principles. He thought that everything could be divided into categories and sub-categories (the smallest of them being the equivalent for first principles).
You want to feel the fear and do it anyway.
When you're sitting there doing nothing, only thinking, you allow your thoughts and your fears to run how you feel about yourself.
When you are not taking action, you live more in your mind. It's all really an illusion in your mind.
When you're taking action, you're focused on the external world and it kind of takes your mind off things because you're focused on taking action.
After you've given yourself rest and you're ready to take some action, start small.
Break down your tasks into the smallest easiest chunks you can.
A small effort is still an effort.