Locally Optimal

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Human Alignment

Results-based coaching provides stronger evidence for effectiveness
Most coaches charge hourly. This makes sense: predictable income, easy scheduling, matches industry norms. But paying for results — “bounties” — creates…
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Chris Lakin
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
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
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
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
Learning to do *real* empathy
I lay there, eyes closed, trying to recall a time when I really felt. The question that had been nagging at me for months hung in the air: “What bad…
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Chris Lakin
1
Feeling part of a greater whole
Have you ever felt deeply connected to the world around you? Like your effortless existence makes a positive difference?
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Chris Lakin
What is it like to be psychologically healthy? Podcast ft. Damon Sasi
Damon Sasi is a mentor of mine, and he is also a therapist who claims to be very psychologically healthy.
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Chris Lakin
 and 
Damon P-Sasi
1:16:43
Eye contact is effortless without emotional blocks
So I wanted to run a fun party, “Make 100% eye contact or get sent to jail.” But I didn’t want eye contact to be forced, I wanted it to be genuinely…
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Chris Lakin
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