What have you recently tried, and failed at?

Emile

Kaj Sotala said:

[I]f you punish yourself for trying and failing, you stop wanting to try in the first place, as it becomes associated with the negative emotions. Also, accepting and being okay with the occasional failure makes you treat it as a genuine choice where you have agency, not something that you're forced to do against your will.

So maybe we should celebrate failed attempts more often ... I for one can't think of anything I've failed at recently, which is probably a sign that I'm not trying enough new things.

So, what specific things have you failed at recently?

Kaj Sotala said:

[I]f you punish yourself for trying and failing, you stop wanting to try in the first place, as it becomes associated with the negative emotions. Also, accepting and being okay with the occasional failure makes you treat it as a genuine choice where you have agency, not something that you're forced to do against your will.

So maybe we should celebrate failed attempts more often ... I for one can't think of anything I've failed at recently, which is probably a sign that I'm not trying enough new things.

So, what specific things have you failed at recently?

I tried to start the habit of flossing my teeth every time I brush (morning & night) and was successful until my floss ran out. I have not gone to purchase a new one and thus haven't flossed my teeth in days.

I tried to start the habit of meditating regularly and did well for a few weeks, but got busy preparing for exams and cut it out recently; haven't been able to reinstate it yet.

Coincidentally, a friend posted this just the other day:

"If you don't fail at least 90 percent of the time, you're not aiming high enough." - Alan Kay

Floss is quite cheap here. I could buy enough thread for daily flossing for a year, for maybe 30$. Maybe you should just buy a lot of it next time.

0Vaniver14y

Floss picks (like Rain recommends) are good, but still run afoul of the 'replacement' problem. Consider getting a water flosser.

13stcredzero14y

The administrative admin of the group I was working with told me something that started my habit of brushing and flossing: "It's simple. You only have to floss between the teeth you want to keep." This evokes lots of images for me. That was 15 years ago, and my habit is still strong to this day.

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What have you recently tried, and failed at?

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What have you recently tried, and failed at?

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