The author reflects on the psychological barriers that can make seemingly simple tasks feel overwhelming, using the example of refreshing their AI newsletter website. Despite believing it would be a quick task, cognitive load—stemming from decision-making, expectations, and perfectionism—made the task feel heavy. They eventually found the determination to start while on a flight and completed the refresh in under an hour, realizing that resistance often arises from a protective instinct rather than laziness. The piece emphasizes the importance of understanding when to push through resistance and how to make starting feel easier by reducing cognitive load, sharing burdens, and cultivating self-compassion.
What is How to live?
This podcast is my public journal, where I share reflections on leadership, mindfulness, technology and culture.