#367 – How will friction improve your life?

What do you learn, when things are too easy?

In a world of "seamless," introducing friction may seem counterproductive. True: things might get clunkier and require more effort.

But what about your mind? Will it also get clunkier when you need to put in some extra effort?

In Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman's framework, System 1 is the thinking process that bypasses "real" thinking. It's the snap judgment, the habitual response that doesn't require any effort. Ordering the lemon sorbet because you always do, or going for a run because it's Wednesday.

Your brain, concerned with preserving energy, perfected System 1 and uses it whenever possible. Your Ego loves it too, and stays quiet, filing its nails, whenever you use it.

System 2, on the contrary, is the deep thinking. Solving a quadratic equation, reading Infinite Jest, or calculating the best route from Pittsburgh to Norman, Oklahoma.

It's a high-maintenance, expensive system. It requires effort and dedication. It can't function when a lot is going on––inside or around you. Thus, your Ego nudges you to stay off it.

In a frictionless world, System 1 is king. The habitual response is good enough because everything's easy and no thought's necessary.

Your Ego's satisfied: no in-habitual response means no excursion out of the familiar, means no change.

Now, add in a bit of friction and you make System 2 go to work. Now you need to think: do I really want the lemon sorbet?

This irritates your Ego: now it has to go to work too. To convince you to stay within your safety zone, it enlists the Ghosts. Now you're too tired, you'll think about this tomorrow. Why bother? You should know better...

But you have the power to choose, even if your Ego thinks you're crazy.

How will embracing friction enrich your experience?

Love,

Carolina