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 attempted Udacity's CS101 class. Got through several units of the program until the learning curve suddenly got very steep for me. Persisted through for another two units, but it wasn't getting better. I certainly got a lot out of the class, but I don't think it's yet within my ability to complete it.

I was also attempting Udacity's ST101 and PH101 courses. The speed was too slow for me. If I wanted to learn the subjects, an actual book might be better. But I also realized that, for right now, it might be better focus on different subjects. (Such as programming and AI.) I'll be taking Stats I & II in the Spring, and Physics isn't required by my major.

So I failed to complete three Udacity courses. But as a positive, it has let me take a page out of Cal Newport's playbook and simplify so I can focus on what's important.

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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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