Between good and bad timelines, there is likely a single tiny decision that caused being on one path or the other
Sometimes, the autopilot leads to the wrong path.
This requires changing the autopilot or turning off the autopilot
This also requires knowing the point of divergence
Trigger action plans (TAPs): from patterns to plans
TAPing requires a gears-level understanding of our trigger-action patterns
TAP both stands for trigger action pattern and plan
The Four-step process to implement a TAP:
Goal
Trigger (What should trigger the new behavior?)
Action (Which action will you do after the trigger?)
Rehearse (visualize the trigger-action pattern 10 times)
Start by tweaking existing TAPs
Example: Can be used to take the stairs instead of the elevator:
Goal: Exercise more
Trigger: Feel the metal of the elevator’s handle
Action: Look over to the stairs
Rehearse: think about it ten times
Failure modes:
The trigger doesn’t fire
You don’t take the action (this failure mode is made less likely by having a very simple action; like, look at the stairs)
If you then don’t take the stairs, then the problem is not TAPs (but hesitation/internal conflict or a difficult action)
“Looking at the stairs” builds form. You may also experiment with directly doing the heavy lifting later, i.e., defining the action as “take the stairs”.
Further tips:
What to use TAPs for: Weak links (problem-inducing divergences of paths), high leverage (high output/effort ratio)
Selecting triggers: Noticeable, concrete, close and relevant to behavior, may include thoughts/feelings
Selecting actions: Simple and atomic (implement multi-tap chains for complicated things), within capabilities, actually useful
Making taps stick: One at a time, incremental changes, 10 times visualization, collect them at a place where I rehearse them weekly
Getting better at TAPing:
Go over existing (also non-endorsed) TAPs in life, review their use end-of-day
meta-TAP for implementing TAPs
Steal TAPs from others
Visualize an exciting goal, then visualize the path to success. Think about all the required TAPs along the way
Summary:
Complex Chains: Some insects like Sphex seem to display complex behavior.
Upon closer look, it is simply a chain of triggered actions.
No active cognition is necessary
Trigger-action pattern (TAPs):
Humans also do this using system I.
Multitasking is made possible by system I
These patterns are contextually activated computations, like in shard theory
Trigger-affect pattern: resulting in emotions
Between good and bad timelines, there is likely a single tiny decision that caused being on one path or the other
Sometimes, the autopilot leads to the wrong path.
This requires changing the autopilot or turning off the autopilot
This also requires knowing the point of divergence
Trigger action plans (TAPs): from patterns to plans
TAPing requires a gears-level understanding of our trigger-action patterns
TAP both stands for trigger action pattern and plan
The Four-step process to implement a TAP:
Goal
Trigger (What should trigger the new behavior?)
Action (Which action will you do after the trigger?)
Rehearse (visualize the trigger-action pattern 10 times)
Start by tweaking existing TAPs
Example: Can be used to take the stairs instead of the elevator:
Goal: Exercise more
Trigger: Feel the metal of the elevator’s handle
Action: Look over to the stairs
Rehearse: think about it ten times
Failure modes:
The trigger doesn’t fire
You don’t take the action (this failure mode is made less likely by having a very simple action; like, look at the stairs)
If you then don’t take the stairs, then the problem is not TAPs (but hesitation/internal conflict or a difficult action)
“Looking at the stairs” builds form. You may also experiment with directly doing the heavy lifting later, i.e., defining the action as “take the stairs”.
Further tips:
What to use TAPs for: Weak links (problem-inducing divergences of paths), high leverage (high output/effort ratio)
Selecting triggers: Noticeable, concrete, close and relevant to behavior, may include thoughts/feelings
Selecting actions: Simple and atomic (implement multi-tap chains for complicated things), within capabilities, actually useful
Making taps stick: One at a time, incremental changes, 10 times visualization, collect them at a place where I rehearse them weekly
Getting better at TAPing:
Go over existing (also non-endorsed) TAPs in life, review their use end-of-day
meta-TAP for implementing TAPs
Steal TAPs from others
Visualize an exciting goal, then visualize the path to success. Think about all the required TAPs along the way
Use them frequently
Be patient