unidentified thoughts

These findings are counterintuitive. Think about it. Why would asserting one’s intentions undermine rather than advance a stated goal? Perhaps, Senay hypothesized, it is because questions by their nature speak to possibility and freedom of choice. Meditating on them might enhance feelings of autonomy and intrinsic motivation, creating a mind-set that promotes success.

It reminds of how most schools give up by offering an absolute answer to everything. This is done to attain a school reputation or goal, instead of fostering the growth of questioning everything — which is the essence of learning and discovery.

But, this experiment may not be entirely true. Determination may come without the process of “Would I do this?”. Soldiers or mercenaries are the examples for this. Although it will be true in the case of “being a hero”.

alexislloyd:

Compelling article from Scientific American arguing that willpower doesn’t work as well as we collectively seem to think it does. 

[One group] was basically putting their minds into wondering mode, while the [second group] was asserting themselves and their will. It is the difference between “Will I do this?” and “I will do this.”

The results were provocative. People with wondering minds completed significantly more anagrams than did those with willful minds. In other words, the people who kept their minds open were more goal-directed and more motivated than those who declared their objective to themselves.

The idea that Mac is only for graphic designers, fashionable people, rich fanboys, and App Store wannabes is a total myth.