Podcast Summary
Feeling stuck and how to overcome it: Despite common experiences of prolonged feeling stuck, many situations are within our control to change. Research suggests most people encounter getting stuck, and practical steps can help us move forward.
That feeling stuck is a common experience, and it's not an inevitable part of life. Psychologist Adam Alter explains that while some instances of being stuck are beyond our control, many of us encounter prolonged periods of feeling stuck in areas of our lives where we do have agency to make a change. These situations can last for months, years, or even a lifetime. According to Alter's research, most people experience getting stuck at some point, and some individuals are more prone to it than others. However, there are practical steps we can take to get unstuck when we feel mentally, emotionally, or otherwise stuck. Alter's latest book, "Anatomy of a Breakthrough," offers insights and strategies for recognizing when it's time to quit versus push ahead, as well as techniques for overcoming the hurdles that keep us from moving forward.
Overcoming the middle slump in long-term projects: Break down large goals into smaller subgoals to create progress and maintain motivation throughout goal-pursuit
Stuckness is a common experience for people around the world and across various aspects of life. According to research, individuals are more likely to feel stuck in the middle of long-term projects due to a lack of progress and motivation. This phenomenon, known as the "middle slump," can be compared to sailing across the ocean where progress is hard to measure. To combat this, it's recommended to break down large goals into smaller subgoals, or "chunks," to create a sense of progress and momentum. This approach, known as teleoanticipation, helps individuals pace themselves and maintain motivation throughout the goal-pursuit process.
The illusion of a creative cliff and plateaus in life: Believe in your ability to be creative despite the illusion of a cliff and adapt strategies to maintain progress during plateaus.
Our perception of creativity and progress can be misleading. Regarding writing a book, breaking it down into manageable chunks of 1000 words each can make the process seem less daunting. The same concept applies to creativity, where we often believe our best ideas come early and that we become less creative over time. However, the reverse is true, and creativity often flourishes when tasks become challenging. This illusion of a creative cliff can deter us from continuing, but pushing through can lead to innovative solutions. Additionally, plateaus in life are a common occurrence. They represent a point where the returns from a particular strategy start to diminish. For instance, in fitness, the same exercise routine that was once effective may become less so over time. In learning a new skill, such as a language, using the same memorization techniques may become less effective. The key is to recognize plateaus and adapt strategies to maintain progress. The book offers valuable advice on overcoming these challenges, including embracing the discomfort of the creative process, seeking diverse perspectives, and learning from failure. Overall, the message is to persevere and trust the process, even when progress seems slow or difficult.
Engage with diverse perspectives for fresh insights: Seeking out non-redundant interactions and merging diverse ideas can lead to innovative outcomes
When feeling stuck, it's beneficial to engage with people who have different perspectives or challenge your ideas. This approach, known as non-redundant or non-overlapping interactions, provides access to a greater diversity of wisdom. By speaking to individuals with distinct viewpoints, you're essentially gaining 10 independent sources of insight instead of 10 echoing minds. Furthermore, the creative process often involves recombining existing ideas to create something new rather than striving for entirely original concepts. This strategy, which Dylan exemplified, can lead to innovative outcomes by merging previously unconnected concepts.
Recombining elements and building on the work of others leads to progress: Progress in creative fields often comes from reusing existing ideas and adapting to new discoveries or opportunities
True radical originality is rare in art, filmmaking, science, or any creative field. Instead, progress often comes from recombining existing elements and building on the work of others. This idea is exemplified by the folk music of Bob Dylan, who acknowledged the influence of the folk tradition on his music. Another concept discussed in the text is pivoting, or the ability to adapt and capitalize on unexpected discoveries or opportunities. This can lead to significant success, as demonstrated by the accidental discovery of artificial sweeteners in the field of chemistry. The best minds in any field strike a balance between pursuing their ideas with dedication and remaining open to new possibilities. This openness to serendipity has led to many groundbreaking discoveries and innovations throughout history.
Writer's block: a layer of muck on creative ideas: To overcome writer's block, act and produce something, even if it's not perfect, to uncover clear, good ideas beneath the surface.
Writer's block is a complex and subjective experience that affects writers differently. Some writers may not believe in it at all, while others may struggle with it frequently. Jeff Tweedy, a renowned musician and writer, likens his creative ideas to a body of water with a layer of muck on top. He suggests that when faced with writer's block, the best approach is to act and produce something, no matter how bad it may seem. By doing so, you can start the creative process and eventually uncover the clear, good ideas at the bottom. This technique can be applied to various creative pursuits and can help overcome the feeling of being stuck. For more insights on psychology, mental health, and behavioral science, check out APA's Magazine, Monitor on Psychology, available for free on their website.
Understanding the importance of taking action despite imperfection: Making progress requires action, even if not perfect. For minor decisions, satisficing is often sufficient. AI can aid in decision-making but should not replace critical thinking.
Taking action, even if it's not perfect, can help overcome writer's block and decision-making paralysis. According to the speaker, it's essential to understand the gravity of each decision and whether it requires maximum effort or if satisficing is sufficient. In the case of minor decisions, it's often best to move forward with an acceptable option rather than searching for perfection. Regarding the role of AI in getting unstuck, the speaker acknowledges its potential as a valuable resource, especially for synthesizing information and generating recommendations quickly. However, it's important to remember that AI should not replace critical thinking and decision-making abilities. Instead, it can serve as a tool to aid us in making informed choices and overcoming obstacles. Ultimately, understanding the importance of action and the role of AI in our decision-making process can help us navigate the overwhelming amount of information available and make progress in our personal and professional lives.
Using AI as a creative tool to overcome blocks: AI can stimulate brainstorming sessions, provide multiple options, and help individuals move from a standstill to progress, even when faced with fear and uncertainty.
Generative AI, such as ChatGPT, can serve as an invaluable tool for overcoming creative blocks and stimulating brainstorming sessions. By providing multiple options and suggestions, it functions as a collective wisdom of various agents and can help individuals move from a standstill to progress. Fear is a common emotion associated with being stuck, and recognizing that it's a universal experience can help alleviate anxiety and isolation. Successful people and businesses often face fear and uncertainty, but they push through it to achieve great things. Using AI as a first step in the process can provide the necessary spark to move from 0 to 1, and the iterative nature of AI allows for continuous improvement.
Overcoming Fear and Deciding When to Quit: Assess if you're converging towards a goal, if not, consider other options. Quitting isn't empty, understand what comes next.
Fear can be a major obstacle preventing people from moving forward, but with time, it often feels liberating as one realizes that their experience is not unique. However, determining when to quit versus continuing to push through can be a challenging question. While research suggests the value of persevering, there are also instances where quitting may be necessary. A useful guideline is to assess if one is converging towards a desired endpoint, and if not, it may be time to consider other options. This concept applies to personal and professional endeavors alike. In consulting with organizations, the advice given is similar, focusing on leadership, team building, and maximizing the chances of overcoming obstacles. The key is to understand that quitting is not an empty concept, and it's essential to consider what comes next.
Stay curious and open-minded for new discoveries: Question common wisdom, experiment with new approaches, and stay open to learning for continuous improvement
Being open-minded and curious, much like a child, can lead to new discoveries and improvements in various aspects of life. The skills and ideas we learn, whether from psychology or business, can have broader applications than we initially think. Additionally, questioning common wisdom and experimenting with new approaches can unlock tremendous potential and prevent us from getting stuck. The example given was about composing a team at work or in life, but this philosophy of questioning and experimenting can be applied to any situation, from communication with loved ones to learning a new skill. It's essential to keep an experimentalist mindset to stay young, open, and continually seek better ways to do things. So, don't assume that common wisdom is always the best wisdom. Instead, ask why and consider alternatives. And remember, there's always room for improvement, no matter the task.
Understanding How to Get Unstuck: Recognize patterns, understand reasons for behaviors, practice empathy and self-compassion to overcome obstacles and get unstuck.
Key takeaway from this episode of Speaking of Psychology is the importance of understanding how to get unstuck in various situations, as discussed with Dr. Alter. This concept is a significant focus in the book he's currently engaged with. While the conversation touched on various aspects of this topic, the exact next steps for Dr. Alter in regards to the documents he mentioned will be determined at a later time. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Alter shared valuable insights into the human mind and how we can overcome obstacles. He emphasized the significance of recognizing our patterns and understanding the underlying reasons for our behaviors. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of empathy and self-compassion in the process of personal growth. As always, Speaking of Psychology aims to provide listeners with valuable information and ideas to apply in their own lives. If you found this episode insightful, please consider leaving a review or sharing it with others. For more information, visit our website at www.speakingofpsychology.org or follow us on your favorite podcast platforms. If you have suggestions for future topics or questions, feel free to email us at speakingofpsychology@apa.org. Thank you for tuning in, and we look forward to bringing you more fascinating insights into the human mind and behavior. For the American Psychological Association, I'm Kim Mills.
