Locally Optimal

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December 2024

The Results-Based Coaching Experiment
To validate whether what we do works, we only accept payment after results.People we’ve helped have paid $58k:“net suffering has greatly diminished” →…
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Chris Lakin
“I used to get triggered by very small things… Now I just laugh” —Antoine
Antoine was the first person I ever tried to help in this capacity.
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Chris Lakin
13:29
People enjoying horror movies is proof they will enjoy ‘horror events’
Would you enjoy this one?
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Chris Lakin
One of my new friends said, “You’re so adventurous.” —Bob
Last summer, Bob came to me with lifelong anxiety that eight years of therapy hadn’t resolved.
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Chris Lakin
13:01
Being Present is Not a Skill
Some meditation advice has a vibe like...
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Chris Lakin
1
Just one more exposure bro
“Just expose yourself to more social situations!” — Ah yes, you felt anxious the first 100 times, but the 101st will be the breakthrough!
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Chris Lakin

November 2024

“How do parts form a whole?”
The question on my mind for the past 2y.
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Chris Lakin
2
Locally optimal psychology
There’s no way that chronic depression, self-loathing, poor agency, or muscle tension could be optimal… right?
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Chris Lakin
1
How do you run an event where strangers feel safe sharing their most cancellable beliefs?
Plausible deniability!
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Chris Lakin
What if muscle tension is sometimes signal jamming?
Why do we often experience feelings as in the body? For example, why do I feel anxiety in my chest rather than just “knowing” I'm anxious?
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Chris Lakin
2
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