Have a theme, trick your brain

January 9, 2023 2:05 AM

A CGP Grey video about New Years Resolutions and picking a theme to have in mind when thinking about making changes or trying new things.

A nice conversation about themes and looking for words of resonance and what you are drawn to on the podcast Cortex between CGP Grey and Myke Hurley.

What’s Your Theme?

posted by Bottlecap (7 comments total)

I liked this a lot.

I read Atomic Habits a couple years ago. That book deals more at the Systems level of abstraction (which is mentioned in the video as well, one level below Themes) but touches on some similar ideas that I have found useful. Things like small gains over time adding up (the 'compound interest' of habits) and moving towards a more broad model of behavioural change. Great post.
posted by lazaruslong at 3:41 AM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]

Nice. I gave up "New Year's Resolutions" a long time ago. When I feel there's something in my life I need to change, I try to address it... and the idea of themes seems it will really help with that. Even more appealing is the idea of a Season of (theme) rather than a Year of (theme).

The examples in the video were intriguing; beyond the typical health-and-fitness resolution-type ideas I saw things like compassion. Maybe this will be my season of community, or friends! Bookmarked the podcast to listen to this evening, and am looking forward to it. Thanks!
posted by evilmomlady at 5:46 AM on January 9, 2023 [3 favorites]

I like it! Fortuitously, I forgot to resolve anything this year, so this comes at the perfect time.
posted by Don Pepino at 7:31 AM on January 9, 2023

Hah, been bucked off the quit smoking bull so many years I didn't even bother this year. I can try a theme though, got a lot of small things I can do to improve my health and without something to outright fail I don't have to wanna give up eventually.
posted by GoblinHoney at 7:49 AM on January 9, 2023

This is great, thank you.
posted by mmoncur at 10:23 AM on January 9, 2023

I love this idea, and have been doing a version of it for a while, by choosing a word for the year. Last year's was "nourish," and this one's is "thrive."

I know they're pretty general ideas, but they do help me focus and make decisions.
posted by rpfields at 12:20 PM on January 9, 2023 [2 favorites]

I keep coming back to these ideas. Thanks again, Bottlecap.

I'm struggling most with the directional aspect of the themes. Still thinking about these.
posted by lazaruslong at 4:02 AM on January 13, 2023