David Gowers ([info]dgowers) wrote,
@ 2006-06-01 13:17:00
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quick, dreamy entry about value and use of control.
Control may be wanted by some
It is misleading because you can only have full control over that which your attention is focused upon.
If you want to control your life(==many things) then you must split your attention, hence insufficient control, hence the way that one who wants universal control is easily upset -- they are aware that their control lacks.
Therefore for control, it is good to develop the ability to control one thing (known commonly as discipline)
. Because you cannot focus on more than one thing effectively, 'having a good life'
means obtaining some of what you want, building a mechanism to maintain and increase it, and maintaining that mechanism. Your ongoing control is required only in the last step.

This insight is courtesy of programming, my latest birthday party, and listening to two girls talking excessively and often sillily.



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[info]charbile
2006-06-01 07:15 am UTC (link)
All you would have had to do to make this entry non-dreamy, would have been to mention exactly how the programming, party, and two silly girls led to the insight; or simply document them as a lead-in concrete of the abstract. so easy!

and happy birthday

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[info]mrda
2006-06-01 04:31 pm UTC (link)
Hope you gouged maximum joy from your anniversary!

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Thanks!
[info]dgowers
2006-06-02 04:20 am UTC (link)
Yeah, it probably was my best yet, had a lot of fun and recalibrated my attitude, came home and made a lot of progress on an important artwork.. Perhaps 'twould be good if there were two points where it is expected that one makes resolutions: new year, and birthday. I certainly intend to do that.

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