meta thinking

Meta-thinking means "thoughts about something" - specifically, it refers to thinking about an action or thought itself. For example, meta-thinking about reading a book would involve contemplating "why do I read?" and "how can I read better?"

Without meta-thinking, our reward system tends to fixate solely on "doing" things. This can lead to situations where we work hard and consistently but achieve no meaningful results. Worse still, when this pattern repeats, it can diminish our confidence and self-efficacy, leading us into self-doubt and defeatism.

Is what you're currently investing your time and energy in truly the most important thing for your day? Why is it important to you? While repeatedly following routines and checking items off a checklist might contribute to living a balanced life, we must recognize that this doesn't necessarily guarantee the results you want, especially when playing a long-term game.

Starting your day with several easy-to-complete tasks might seem more efficient than tackling the day's most crucial task (since checkboxes get filled quickly), but this is largely self-deception. This approach consistently puts you in situations where you must handle the most important things with depleted energy and poor conditions.

Do meta-thinking first. When you're about to enter any game that life presents, engage in meta-thinking first. Why are you gathering with these people? Why is this task you're about to undertake important to you?

Then, you must do this meta-thinking "regularly." Our weightings get updated through the actual skin-in-the-game process. As we participate in games with real stakes, situations change, assumptions shift, and perhaps reward systems evolve - what was once important might no longer be so. In these situations, we need to coldly evaluate whether we're still playing for the same purpose or if changed circumstances mean we should stop playing.

Do meta-thinking. Do it regularly.