Ulysses Pacts: STOP believing in your self

Final week, I downloaded a brand new online game to play.

And half-hour later, I uninstalled the sport. Not as a result of I didn’t like the sport, however particularly as a result of I preferred the sport an excessive amount of. The sport known as Dave the Diver, the place you’re a SCUBA Diver/Sushi restaurant proprietor. You spend every day diving and catching fish, after which every night serving sushi on the restaurant.

This sport pressed each organic button my mind has for “effectivity.”

My mind informed me I needed to execute every dive as effectively as doable. Every night time on the restaurant meant I wanted to obtain a 100% buyer satisfaction ranking.

After all, nothing would occur if I didn’t.

However this sport + my mind equaled a recipe for addictive catastrophe. After half-hour I knew if I didn’t delete it, I might spend each doable minute taking part in the sport, and each minute not taking part in could be spent enthusiastic about get extra environment friendly on the sport.

As a result of I’m in the course of writing a secret-book-shaped-project that I can’t discuss… I knew I wanted to avoid wasting Future Steve.

In different phrases, it was time to channel an historical technique for survival:

A “Ulysses Pact.”

What’s a Ulysses Pact?

In Homer’s Odyssey, Ulysses (also referred to as “Odysseus”) is about to sail previous a harmful island of Sirens who sing stunning music. This music is so stunning that anyone who hears it loses all management, and can sail towards the island, crashing their boat on the rocks surrounding the island.

Fortunately, our boy Uylsses has been suggested by the witch Circe on the one method he and his males can survive. In Madelline Miller’s ​Circe​, she recounts the recommendation Circe offers the captain:

“[For] the Sirens, there chances are you’ll use your methods. Fill your males’s ears with wax, and go away your personal free. When you tie your self to the mast, chances are you’ll be the primary man to ever hear their tune and inform the story.”

As writer Corey Doctorow factors out in ​a current e-newsletter​:

“Ulysses was sturdy sufficient to know that he would sometime be weak. He expressed his energy by guarding towards his weak point.

“If you take some chance off the desk throughout a second of energy in recognition of some coming second of weak point.”

In different phrases, generally giving up on your self is probably the most brave factor you are able to do. It asks you to just accept your weaknesses, and make a strategic pre-planned resolution to guard towards them.

Ulysses Pacts In My Life

I’m a comical catastrophe trapped within the physique of an grownup who pretends to be a functioning member of society. I’m additionally my very own boss, utterly in charge of my time. Yikes.

I battle with impulse management. There are specific experiences that I’m simply incapable of doing “a bit bit.” I additionally know that when I begin an pleasurable exercise, it would take over.

Which implies it’s virtually not possible for me to solely do some issues “just a bit bit” after which say “okay that’s sufficient for at the moment.”

In spite of everything, I do know my mind isn’t geared up to deal with the lifetime of abundance we’re surrounded with: limitless distraction, hedonistic enjoyment, limitless meals, and many others.

E.O. Wilson mentioned it finest:

“The true downside of humanity is the next: We now have Paleolithic feelings, medieval establishments and godlike expertise.”

Reasonably than lament my lack of willpower on the subject of addictive expertise, I ​observe acceptance​ and as a substitute make willpower pointless.

Thus, my life is held along with spit, duct tape, and Ulysses Pacts:

• I’ve an app on my telephone referred to as Opal. It robotically prompts at 7AM and blocks sure apps, web sites, and all social media for many of the hours of the work day. I nonetheless decide up my telephone 10-20 instances per day and attempt to open these apps, after which I’m reminded to get again to work.
• I exploit a program on my pc referred to as Focus. It robotically prompts at 7AM and blocks virtually ANYTHING enjoyable or distracting on my pc till the top of the work day.
• I don’t preserve snacks in my home. I like snacks. And as soon as a bag is open, it will get eaten. However after I’m sitting on the sofa watching TV (I simply completed Fallout and liked it), and I’m craving a snack, there’s no resolution to be made. I’m definitely not going to drive to the shop.
• I don’t have any video games on my telephone. I do know that I can’t management any impulses, particularly for “gatcha” free video games that encourage you to purchase gems to stage up.
• I’m locked out of every social media app after quarter-hour each day. Social Media has been designed by behavioral scientists, with billions of {dollars}, to be as addictive as doable. So I don’t attempt to “use it just a bit bit.” I merely don’t let myself use it for any longer than “a bit bit” as a result of I’m actually locked out.
• I don’t play multiplayer video games. I’ve no regulation round “okay I’m performed,” so I not play multiplayer video games. I wager if I performed World of Warcraft, you’ll by no means get one other e-newsletter from me. Thus, I completely play single participant video games with a narrative or narrative.
• I robotically donate to 2 charities each month: ProPublica investigative journalism and the Nashville Meals Kitchen. Each of those selections have been made ONCE, which suggests I by no means have to recollect to donate, nor am I tempted to spend the cash as soon as it hits my account.
• At any time when I am going to the physician, dermatologist, or dentist, I all the time schedule my subsequent appointment whereas I’m there. As a result of I do know I’ll neglect to take action months later, or I’ll inform myself I don’t want to go. Future Steve will not wish to get his tooth cleaned or get bloodwork performed.
• My exercises are pre-scheduled in my calendar. I might a lot relatively not work out, however I do know if I don’t plan for them in my calendar, one thing else much more enjoyable (however much less useful) will take their place.

The one motive you get this article each week, and the one motive I get to the gymnasium a number of instances per week (along with ​profitable the genetic and environmental lottery​), is due to these Ulysses Pacts.

Right here’s how you need to use them in your personal life.

You-lysses Pacts in Motion

Returning to Corey Doctorow:

“Ulysses pacts aren’t good, however they’re crucial. On the very least, making a Ulysses pact begins with acknowledging that you’re fallible. Which you can be tempted, and rationalize your method into taking dangerous motion, even when higher.

Changing into an grownup is a strategy of studying that your energy comes from seeing your weaknesses and defending your self and the individuals who belief you from them.”

Let’s see how we are able to add some Ulysses Pacts to your life.

To create your personal Ulysses Pact: search for alternatives to decide TODAY in a second of energy, to safeguard your self towards an anticipated second of weak point TOMORROW.

Even higher, search for alternatives to decide as soon as, and it prevents you from needing to make use of willpower to repeatedly do the fitting factor sooner or later.

Just a few extra examples:

• Determine to not preserve problematic meals in the home as soon as, and also you don’t must spend all night time, each night time, deciding NOT to eat these meals.
• Determine to robotically donate to a trigger you like as soon as, and also you don’t have to recollect to not spend that cash on one thing else and donate every month.
• Delete and/or block social media and time-wasting video games in your telephone as soon as, and all of the sudden the choice to learn a e-book or go for a stroll relatively than mindlessly scroll by TikTok or Instagram turns into a lot simpler.

Keep in mind, acknowledging and creating safeguards towards our weaknesses isn’t an indication of giving up or weak point.

It’s a brave signal of acceptance.

It’s additionally good.

What are the Ulysses Pacts you utilize in your personal life? Did this text encourage you to create one for your self?

Attain out and let me know!

-Steve