#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
Dont tell anyone but I was disappointed in myself on the last show I made pots for I wanted them all to have a new tecnique and have a different and new look. However, as time passed it became less and less of a reality I would make the new work. I started to gameify the process in my mind. It got to the point where I could make the same ol pots that people loved with out the friction. After working a day of overtime resistance pushed me the eaiser rout just to be done on time. In my hurrying of the same ol I quite by accident came up with a few new techniques that made th same old look better. So I am not sure what happened. Now that I have time i will try the new tecnique i wanted to try. But I may need dealines and friction to create tension to avoid procrastination. Ugggg!