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It would seem that convincing people that they don't need to "try" to achieve their goals is difficult. One has to tell them they are doing something wrong, not that they should do some new thing, and this really gets their goat. They can become quite agitated, quite the opposite to the intended reaction! They will also tell at great length all the little myths they have built up to explain why their life is crap and there's nothing they can do about it. I've seen this before with the mentally ill ("i am <label/>, there's a chemical imbalance in my brain"), i had not realized it would apply so much to the physical side as well.

It seems to me that this is the reason things like Alexander Technique are not popular.

I suppose one might pretend that there was some mystical dimension to explain how one is suddenly able to act without effort. Rituals could be devised that set up an expectation of change. For example, baptism, in which one is "born again". Not really to my liking.

Placebo medications would also suffice. Especially if they have some really odd side-effects. Also not to my liking.

Hmm.

There is a peculiar horror that improvements can be made by simply looking at problems a little differently, it makes one wonder just how much else we are doing wrong. It does seem a little cruel to force this on people. But the improvements that may be made outweigh this.

A big part of the problem is the Protestant work ethic, which is embedded deeply in our culture. One is expected at all times while "at work" to appear busy. Sufficient busy-work covers your butt if things go wrong. It seems people think that there is a simple equation whereby effort is converted into results, no matter how poorly directed, and no matter the problem, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

It's also deeply embedded in our language. We "try to think", we "think hard", we "concentrate", with furrowed brows in order to induce appropriate levels of pain, as though thinking is a bowel movement. We do "all-nighters" when studying. We feel guilty if we don't do these things, but it would be hardly possible to devise methods more likely to inhibit thought or insight. And we simply don't have the words for how to properly control our bodies. We don't have words to describe our control systems and feedback mechanisms and internal cables and levers and hinge points and balance systems, or for means of energy minimization and efficient application of effort and identification of systems in opposition, negotiation of valleys in the energy function, factorization.

Thought is not an action. Thoughts assemble themselves of their own accord. The pieces must exist, the words and concepts and experiences, and then one simply attends to the relevant factors while eliminating expectations as to what the solution will be. You don't make thoughts, thoughts make you.

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