What does “good futility” even mean, and how do I apply it in my journal this week?

Think of good futility as the relief that comes from dropping what can’t be controlled so your energy returns to what can. In your Stoic entry today: 1) Use the prompt “Make a list of 10 things you simply cannot change.” Start broad (weather, other people’s opinions), then go personal (a past decision, a colleague’s temperament). 2) Put a star next to three items you’ll choose to accept this week. 3) Write one acceptance statement per star: “I don’t control X; I’ll focus on Y.” 4) Note how your attention shifts (Herbert Simon: “A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention”). 5) Close with a brief intuition check (Poincaré): “If I listened to my gut right now, what small step would I take?”

I’m overthinking work decisions. How can I use this theme to reduce decision fatigue in my journaling?

Use the prompt “Can you think of decisions you wish you didn’t have to make?” to separate what’s worth your effort from what’s good futility. In your entry: 1) List 5 recurring decisions at work. 2) Label each: control, influence, or accept. 3) For “accept,” write a one-line release (“Not mine to solve today”). 4) For “influence,” choose one minimum viable action. 5) Create one default to remove friction (e.g., a standard meeting agenda). 6) Reflect with Tversky’s idea—letting yourself “waste hours” on the right things: Which decision deserves slow, deep thinking, and which gets a good-enough choice? Finish by unplugging for five minutes (Anne Lamott) and capturing the one next step you’ll do after the break.

I’m afraid acceptance means giving up. How do I explore the difference between acceptance and helplessness in my Stoic practice?

Try a two-column entry using the prompt “What is the difference between acceptance and helplessness?” Column A: Acceptance (clear-eyed, values-led, present-focused). Column B: Helplessness (numb, values-avoiding, future-dread). Add examples from your week to each. Then connect to courage (Maya Angelou): write one small courageous behavior you’ll take despite uncertainty. Use “How is fear related to responsibility?” to note one responsibility you choose to keep—and one you’ll set down. If strong feelings arise, give them room (Victor Hugo: “Those who do not weep, do not see”) and end with a one-sentence boundary: “Today I accept X, and I act on Y.”

On Good Futility

This week, we’ll reflect on the goodness of futility.

Mar 05, 2023 ― Mar 11, 2023

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