Don’t Let Yourself Become Complacent: Dangers of Mental Safety Nets

I peeled back layers of my mind until the collapse of previously unquestioned beliefs

Image generated using DeepAI

I recently went down a cognitive rabbit hole of “whys,” asking myself why I do something, and then asking “why” again for each answer I reached.

This process not only builds meta-awareness, but also challenges beliefs and keeps the mind sharp.

It seems like a simple task, but by the second or third layer, I had to really think hard about the answers.

That’s it.

Two or three layers.

It’s incredible how thin the foundation is for some ideas I hold nearly as universal truths.

My most recent exploration of this process had me questioning why I don’t always try my best or push my limits, despite telling myself that I live on a system of such values.

When I fall short, I often blame a lack of time or shifting priorities, but digging a little deeper reveals some change is in store.

For example: “I could be a better writer if I just put more time into it, but I think my time is ultimately better spent on X.”