Principles for growth
Radically effective and rapid growth is possible with the right combination of facilitator and method. But this is rare in 2024!
Mental issues are usually locally optimal in some way. For example, depression, anxiety, insecurity, failure at work, failure in romance, muscle tension / chronic pain, self-loathing, etc. commonly help one avoid fears or achieve unconscious goals.
The nervous system is constantly making and updating unconscious predictions. Growth largely requires getting these predictions to update.
Growth is often more about un-learning than learning. Example:
Growth is largely about self-fulfilling prophecies. For example, expecting a job interview to go well can be self-fulfilling, and expecting a date to go poorly can also be self-fulfilling. (Post coming soon.)
Each individual's growth will be unique, yet most have the same general shape.
For most people, growth is mostly about improving their social interactions.
This should be obvious, but some growth can occur by improving one’s physical environment (e.g., reducing lead poisoning, eating better food, darkness at night for better sleep, leaving dangerous situations).
Thanks to Brian Toomey, Stag Lynn, Kaj Sotala, Alex Zhu, Damon Sasi, Anna Salamon, CFAR, Epistea Residency, Nolan Kent, and many more for mentorship and support.
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