Chapter 70
When Our Mind Gets in Its Own Way
THAT OUR MIND HINDERS ITSELF ‘Tis a pleasant imagination to fancy a mind exactly balanced betwixt two equal desires: for, doubtless, it can never pitch upon either, forasmuch as the choice and application would manifest an inequality of esteem; and were we set betwixt the bottle and the ham, with an equal appetite to drink and eat, there would doubtless be no remedy, but we must die of thirst and hunger. To provide against this inconvenience, the Stoics, when they are asked whence the election in the soul of two indifferent things proceeds, and that makes us, out of a…
Public-domain chapter text, formatted for reading.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Decision Archaeology
Think of a decision you've been putting off or overthinking. Write down what you think are the 'equal' options. Then dig deeper: what tiny preferences, gut feelings, or instincts are you ignoring? What would you choose if you had to decide in the next five minutes, and why?
Consider:
- •Notice how your mind creates false equality between options that probably aren't actually equal
- •Pay attention to the subtle preferences you're trying to rationalise away
- •Consider what you're really afraid will happen if you choose 'wrong'
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you made a quick decision based on instinct that turned out better than expected. What did that teach you about trusting your subtle preferences over endless analysis?
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
You Might Also Like
Lessons from The Essays of Montaigne
Theme-by-theme analyses that connect this book to modern life skills.
Deep diving the literary elements.
