Hack Your Brain With Elaborate Coping Mechanisms

[@NoBoilerplate]

ERRATA - Mum says I actually DID practice the piano, just not enough to save me from being fired by my piano teacher XD - Obsidian beginners video kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYbVgJl_ptt6iZY

[@NoBoilerplate]

@Kodimis Kodimis Open source is core to what I do. I made an exception for Obsidian because, as you say, it's the stand-out feature winner in this category. As you saw in the video, my critical data must be plain text - a superpower here is this allows me to cheerfully use obsidian, safe in the knowledge if the 2-person company goes away tomorrow, I can move to another system trivially. Logseq is indeed the #2 in my mind. But don't forget about org-mode. That's the king of all. If I could find a seamless sync for my phone, I'd be back on org! I wrote the first 6 seasons of Lost Terminal in it, and I miss it every day.

[@duwangchew]

@@NoBoilerplate I've recently switched over to org-mode after trying a lot of different todo and note taking apps and solutions. I gotta say the learning curve is VERY steep, but it has all the features I need, with the convenience of just pressing 1 shortcut to start taking notes or modifying existing ones. It's the type of integration and ease of use I haven't seen with anything else including obsidian, notion and even just plain markdown ( I still create plain markdown files for readmes and such ).

[@NoBoilerplate]

@@duwangchew I adore org-mode, and if it had a better story on mobile, I'd be using it for my brain, but nothing I tried was seamless, and I can't not have access to my brain away from a computer!

[@duwangchew]

@@NoBoilerplate I've been trying to develop something for it on mobile, but it's been hard to find time for it recently. Either way I'm rarely away from my computer so it's not a huge issue for me.

[@SigurdBraathen]

♥

[@andybrice2711]

Regarding autism and non-verbal communication: I took some courses in reading body-language and facial expressions. Turns out it's actually a pretty simple matter of visual pattern recognition. It's just that I was born without the reference patterns pre-installed.

[@NoBoilerplate]

that's interesting. I think the important thing is to recognise what areas one is weak in, and focus on building them up.

[@Mr2ops]

Ditto on this, I think that's why they called it a "Developmental" disorder, because we can learn it no doubt. Just takes a fat minute, especially when you learn them wrong at first

[@NoBoilerplate]

@@Rudxain hehe

[@zenovak5177]

@@Mr2ops A lot of these things, EQ stuffs are always considered intuitive by others. Kinda sucks as some have to be "forced" to learn it late in adulthood, as relationships depends on it.

[@Mr2ops]

@@zenovak5177 It only sucks if you think about it in terms of what you don't have. Really for us it's just something we gotta do, like everybody else has shit to do.

[@Pyromaniac77777]

This is great. I appreciate the minimalism, straightforward advice, grey background, taking your time, speaking softly, it’s perfect for me to listen and assimilate

[@NoBoilerplate]

I'm delighted, this is all intentional. Low animation, clear speech, I'm trying to make the kind of content I would enjoy :-)

[@averyvi]

Thats all of his videos, which is why i love to watch them and if I had the money to spare I'd definetly become a patron supporter.

[@missflorathewriter9014]

For Autistic folks who relate but can't get past the first hurdle of "do the hardest thing first" or "do the most important thing first," maybe due to depression or dysregulated feelings because of other life stressors: set up a checklist of 3 things. Two easy things and one big thing. 25 minutes for the easy things, 5 minute break once you're done to get some water, and 25 minutes to do the big thing. When you're done, put everything away and take a break. The two small things are earning you "wins" to help push your brain out of the sad mindset. Stressed mindset. Stuck mindset. Whatever it is you're dealing with. These wins were so important for me to check off on something I could see. Later the big thing doesn't feel so scary, and now you're on a roll. You got this and I believe in you.

[@NoBoilerplate]

that sounds really good :-)

[@TheClanFollows]

Just to mention, Eat the frog can also be conceptualized like multiple mountains you must roll a barrel over. If you arrange the largest mountain first, you can roll the barrel down and use much less energy on the following mountains because you already overcame the largest obstacle and gained (metaphoric) momentum. Think like how you have MORE energy in a day if you start by going for a walk or going to the gym. Works the same way in a mental space

[@NoBoilerplate]

Ooh, that's a GREAT ANALOGY! Thank you!

[@kiwitou420]

i think thats not just a metaphor, but actually what happens in the brain because of the way our neurochemistry works. if we start with something really challenging it gets way easier to do less challenging tasks afterwards, because the motivation baseline is set to the hard challange, but if you start with something easy then the motivation will only be "produced" for this level of challenge. the reward of this is also noticable, because it boosts the confidence for the next time, so that smaller goals become more and more intuition and we can focus on more complex things, which gives us a stronger sense of accomplishment.

[@carchocolate93]

This is q cool metaphor. I can't help but think that if the barrel can roll nicely down one hill and back up the next, it might be easier to do it in the other direction... Like pushing a swing a little bit, then a little bit more every time it's going forward again.

[@kshitijeminem]

Thank you not just for the direct deep value each item has in this video but how personal this was. Thank you.

[@NoBoilerplate]

That's so generous of you! Thank you so much! Yes, I was worried it was a little *too* personal, but everyone has been so nice :-)

[@KatzRool]

Funny how probable of a generalisation it is to say "you have autism" to your audience of rust enjoyers.

[@houtamelocoding]

rust is the autism dream

[@NoBoilerplate]

such a mood

[@Yadobler]

​@@monad_tcp error: borrow after free!

[@monad_tcp]

@@Yadobler compiler errors are good , less things to think

[@PixLgams]

​@@monad_tcp Haven't worked with Rust yet, but that sounds like Python to a T

[@rumble1925]

I've been struggling with undiagnosed ADHD for a long time. The one thing that has helped me immensely is that I don't neglect cleaning. I keep my house like a neat freak, nothing is out of place, even for an hour. It's so easy for me to just spiral into neglect and depression due to my inability to focus, and I've found that taking that tiny step of never letting anything pile up at home lets me focus my will power for other things.

[@gertjanvandenbroek1620]

I consider myself a more neurotypical person, but the phrase 'refuse the temptation to guess' did spark a thought that I'd like to share. I believe it boils down to a few key points: 1. In a conversation between two parties (e.g., you and me, or a speaker and an audience), there is a responsibility on both sides to actively listen. This means that not only should the person listening pay attention to what is being said, but the speaker should also make an effort to understand what the listener 'might' be experiencing. What does their body language convey? Do they seem to comprehend? Are there signs of doubt? Are they uninterested, or perhaps trying to wrap up the conversation because they really need to go home? If you're in an online discussion and someone responds negatively to something you said, consider where they're coming from, understand their intentions, and question if they truly grasped your point. Could you be wrong? 2. The responsibility of 'showing or sharing what you are experiencing with the speaker' lies with you. The better you are at conveying this, the more meaningful the conversation becomes because you're actively working to understand each other. However, expressing this information in a polite manner is a unique skill not everyone possesses. Still, I would argue that it's worth investing time and energy into developing if you can. 3. Considering points #1 and #2, I think most people are usually guessing or estimating what the other person is thinking, and there's no real metric for it. Some individuals excel at this, while others don't. Some may even be completely oblivious and blurt out whatever is on their minds.

[@AntonisTzorvas]

Your videos deliver pure value, are authentic and direct. A truly positive influence. Great aesthetics and story-telling. Love your craft!

[@NoBoilerplate]

That's so generous of you, thank you! I try really hard to write a good, clear script and record it clearly. I'm improving every month on both those things :-) Thank you so much!

[@NotesNNotes]

This was incredibly helpful and, also, surprisingly endearing.

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you so much! I was a bit worried about putting something so personal out there, but I'm really glad I did!

[@roankai]

love how concise and precise your language is: not for the sake of brevity, but rather deep clarity. this takes a form of dense staccatoed information symphony. i just now realized that is precisely why you do not need supporting visuals. gratitude for inspiring me to send myself a message into the past 🤗

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you so much, you've got it entirely. I don't have flashy visuals for accessibility reasons, so I must put all my effort into an engaging script :-)

[@iliya-malecki]

I love how under the cover of socially acceptable "productivity boost" you are talking about actually important stuff for (i assume) a lot of neurodivergent people. Loved the notes themselves too!

[@samcassidy2441]

In school teaching, we have to account for the needs of neurodivergent students. The great thing is that stuff that benefits neurodivergent students benefits neurotypical students too -- clear instruction, reduce distraction, clear structure

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you! I am glad you see that! I do the same with my AI story, have you listened to Lost Terminal? kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmTFdXhvoNitg8U

[@davidcarter8012]

Hearing you boldly assume everyone watching this is autistic was weird whiplash for me because I was like "why would you assume I'm autistic? That doesn't make any sense? .... Oh wait I am autistic, what's going on?"

[@vincentfox4929]

I've never been formally diagnosed with autism or ADHD but it's so weird that a lot of the points you've mentioned are things I use to cope in my life without which i would probably be stuck and unable to move from my bed.

[@KaptenIglo]

Same here.

[@haifutter4166]

What I wondered: Should we consider getting diagnosed? The KZbin-Algorithm definitely thinks we are autistic and have ADHD. But what is the benefit of a diagnosis, when we are already that deep in coping and have come that far anyway?

[@illiiilli24601]

​@@haifutter4166the hope is it might make our lives easier? Like putting on glasses for the first time when you have myopia I don't have an ADHD diagnosis, but yeah

[@BrennanYoung]

Regarding public speaking, your advice is absolutely spot on. I worked as a teacher of young adults for many years, a daily "public speaking" gig. I routinely got encouraging feedback via surveys twice a year. You *must* know very precisely the topic/material you wish to communicate. Preparation time should consist mostly of reducing the topic/material to what can not be further simplified. It is wise to pick a few examples if the topic is abstract. Hide or reduce peripheral information to improve focus. Admit this if challenged. Spend *no time* on powerpoint, decorative animations, clip-art, funny memes etc. This only distracts the audience from what you want to communicate. Run the presentation off brief plain text notes (headings/outlines/lists). Ideally printed out, or handwritten. The audience does not need to see them. Whiteboards are good, actually. Show steps. Sketch diagrams. *Use the eraser* Watch the audience, and let their body language influence the speed at which you go through the material. [My advice to my younger self is to slow down.]

[@mannyistyping]

As a late diagnosed autistic adult, I wondered why time and time again I gravitated to your videos and other works and I realize now it's the resonance in how you present information. ❤This message to yourself resonates with past me.

[@NoBoilerplate]

I'm so pleased :-)

[@BinBintheRiceCake]

I came to this video thinking it was going to be like any other help video but to my surprise, it isn't. Much like how you went over sensory overload, you didn't overload the video with extra backgrounds, music, too many pictures which I personally appreciate. Thank you for making a video that gets straight to the point in this day and age!

[@NoBoilerplate]

I'm delighted you see the effort it takes to do less. My goal is to make the kind of video I would like, one where the words are so good, you don't need lolrandom screaming.

[@stolkovandrew]

Started keeping a daily paper checklist a couple of weeks ago. It's unbelievable how freeing it feels to just write down all the stuff I need to do today, instead of trying to remember it all. Even though I'm just starting out, a lot of the brain fog already went away, I can actually do things now!

[@NoBoilerplate]

Paper can hold on to memories so well! XD

[@SynthSoundscapes]

When I am really up against it this is what I end up doing too! I love Trello and digital tools, but they are out of sight, out of mind when you close the window or tab. A notebook on my desk has persistence I need, but a fresh page for each new day also has the impermanence I need to not get overwhelmed with an endless list I keep adding to!

[@NikZapp]

Wow, im at a loss for words. It's like you peeked into my brain and laid out everything that is happening to me. This feels surreal! Amazing video!

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you! Keep learning! 🙂

[@yubtubtime]

Chaining habits seems like the tightest bottleneck. Everything else, in my experience, is easy enough once you really see the value in it. Eating the frog is hard...until you realize how much easier it makes everything else. Chaining habits though, even once you realize its power, remains frustratingly difficult. Flowcharts and timers are definitely good tools, but I tend to overwhelm myself with calendars and reminders. The big thing is to recognize what you value so that you *can* focus on those things. Then choose tools and systems that support those values ✊

[@mousoon]

That's really straightforward explanation and examples. I knew a lot of these techniques, but when I try to use them, I usually jump from one to another and forget in process of previous ones (until I bump into them again in notes or KZbin). Thank for placing them so compactly together.

[@LuisQuintanaGlidder]

This is the kind of video/post/obsidian page I'll write after spending time researching productivity tools instead of doing my tasks, feel great about it for a few days, then abandon everything and go back to chaos once the novelty is gone. (I also have ADHD) Lately (last year or so), I've given up on every organisation tool, and in fact I've gone from obsessively writing everything done to a philosophy that actually helps me: letting go and flowing with things. Trying easy. I always do whatever first comes to mind immediately, never write any tasks down. I work so much better now. I'm never overburdened by my to-do list, and I'm never paralysed trying to decide what to do. If something comes to mind that I'm not capable or willing to do in the moment, I'll trust that it will come up again in the future once it is more pressing, but I'm also prepared to assume that it will simply be gone and that's that. It probably wasn't that important then.... Improvisation, adaptation and insctinct alone move me, and it feels more freeing, my mind more clear, my day less stressful, and my awareness more present. Of course autism may be the great difference between these two approaches, but I just wanted to add my little grain to the poor of advice, in case it resonates with someone :)

[@NoBoilerplate]

that sounds great! Like in a zen/daoist flow state. ADHD really hurts when you have to abide by OTHER PEOPLE's deadlines, for me

[@matousrehak5556]

This might be the exact kind of videos I was looking for. A guy just telling us useful information without all the flashy things, loud music in the background, and other distractions. It is simple and I love it. Thank you. Subscribed

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you, that's my entire style! did you see my adhd and autism videos? similar stuff in there you might like!

[@joshaustintech]

I appreciate the candidness and vulnerability here. It's made me think of what I eventually discovered about myself that I wish I could have told my past self. One example - I was also made to play the piano by my parents. I was so bad at piano practice I made my last piano teacher cry. Between the guilt of making a teacher cry and the frustration of being made to do something I didn't really want to do at the time, I quit playing instruments for about 10 years. Fast forward to last Autumn season when OCaml Andrea (formerly Rust Hobbyist) introduced me to modular synthesizers - I've made the discovery that I enjoy playing and making music, just not fussing for hours over piano keyboard techniques and formal music notation. Sequencers and controlled randomization have unlocked a new world of musical opportunities for me such that I'm now considering getting a keyboard for the first time since college. Long story short - many times we end up hating something that is actually very good for us and it's because we needed to approach it differently.

[@NoBoilerplate]

I'm so pleased for you! I presume you're familiar with VCVRack and Surge XT? Great free plugins I use all the time!

[@joshaustintech]

@@NoBoilerplate I'm not familiar with these. I'll have to give them a spin!

[@muju2shoes]

I felt compelled to return and express my profound gratitude for your videos, which were instrumental in my self-discovery of adult autism. The first video I watched made me think, "Wow, I genuinely resonate with how this person thinks." Through serendipitous encounters with others who share this experience and by immersing myself in various books and videos, I will always remember your video as the catalyst that sparked and opened this transformative journey. Keep up the good fight!

[@NoBoilerplate]

I couldn't be more delighted, congrats on starting the journey, come check out the #neurodivergent channel on my discord if you've not already - lots of lovely people there!

[@botondhetyey159]

Tris, I absolutely love your channel, you're the reason I wrote my bachelor's thesis project in Rust. But this video (and by extension your Hack your brain) series is by far my favorite content on this channel. It feels like I was trying to read a book upside down, and you turned it the right way up for me - you put into words my problems that I've been unsuccessfully trying to explain to people for years.

[@NoBoilerplate]

Botond, thank you so much for saying so! I'm trying to branch out to a wider audience with more general technical videos, and the response has been so nice! :-)

[@botondhetyey159]

@@NoBoilerplate Keep it up, man, you deserve the success.

[@hugarada7156]

0:00 Intro 0:58 1. Declare Bankruptcy on your memory 1:23 2. Carry a notebook 2:00 3. Calendars are great 2:27 4. Getting things done (GTD) 2:59 5. Carry earplugs 3:31 6. In the face of ambiguity, refuse the temptation to guess 5:20 7. Use a note taking system 5:39 8. Plain text lasts forever 6:44 9. Eat the frog 7:21 10. Build habits then chain them together 7:57 11. Public speaking is important 8:30 12. IMITATE IMITATE IMITATE 8:37 13. Negative emotions are not very useful 9:20 14. F O C U S 9:38 15. Just do a bit 9:55 16. Timers are great 10:33 17. Humanize organize mechanize 11:02 18. One thing at a time most important thing first START NOW

[@123-o2n5p]

As a fellow software developer with ADHD and autism (world sure is small) I want to add my perspective on this advice. Every neurodivergent person is different, so maybe it will be useful for someone watching this video later. So, would this advice work for me? 1. Declare bankruptcy on your memory - Yes, I'm doing this already. 2. Carry a notebook - Yes, phone with notes in my case. 3. Calendars are GREAT - Yes. 4. Getting Things Done (GTD) - I find any complexity in task tracker massively distracting. I've settled on three plain lists: "To do now", "To do later" and "Scheduled". 5. Carry earplugs - Yes, noise cancelling headphones in my case. 6. In the face of ambiguity, refuse the temptation to guess - That is a new idea for me, but it sounds great. I will try to apply it. 7. Use a Note-Taking System - Yes. 8. Plain Text lasts forever - That is just an observation about the plain text, but yes :) 9. Eat the frog - Directly opposite for me. I usually build up inertia doing small/easy/pleasant tasks and then gain enough momentum to do something difficult. Trying to start with the biggest task leads to procrastination at best and complete surrender at worst. 10. Build habits, then chain them together - I've tried building habits before with mixed results. I did not figure out a process that would work for me consistently. I will check the book you've mentioned and see if I want to try it again. 11. Public speaking is important - Yes. 12. Imitate imitate imitate - I understood this as an advice to learn masking consciously. Masking is a useful and sometimes necessary skill, but in a long term I want to build my life in a way that I don't need to hide myself or to pretend to be someone else. 13. Negative emotions are not very useful - I think this one is factually wrong. We can't control which emotions we feel, we can only control our responses to our emotions. It does not help to dwell on negative emotions, but ignoring them is even more dangerous. Especially for autistic people, as a lot of us already have trouble recognizing and addressing our emotions. 14. F o c u s - Yes. 15. Just do a bit - Yes. 16. Timers are GREAT - Never worked for me. When I am on timer I feel constantly rushed, can't concentrate and hate every minute of it. 17. humanize organize mechanize - Something I do, but not purposely. Thank you for putting it into words. It feels really good to meet another person whose experiences are so similar to mine, even if there are stark differences in some aspects. Thank you for creating your videos.

[@Clairvoyancerion]

Thanks for commenting this. My experiences are nearly identical to yours, if not exactly the same 😅. Especially the eat the frog & timers part. Never felt like it works for me if I’m feeling rushed or if there seems to be an impossibly large task without doing any ‘prep’ for this task. Also with the masking - i still find it hard to unmask. Let me know if you have tips or experiences regarding this because masking is exhausting.

[@kapeywu]

When I learned i'm autistic half a year ago I had a chance to learn bits and pieces of the things you've talked about here and I just wanted to thank you for this because it summarises and expands on the things I knew and didn't know about myself. I'm now committing to watching this video at least once every 6 months to get more things done and to find my structure like you've found yours. Thank you

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you for your kind words. I'm glad some of the coping mechanisms help - I really am very autistic, to the point of requiring childhood therapy to make eye contact, but through the enormous efforts of my parents, teachers, and my own, I now feel like I can do anything!

[@maxbilger]

Hi Tris, I first watched this video about 3 Months ago. Not being aware of what change it will bring to my life. Your way of conveying information in a simple, structured, interesting and sincere way makes it so easy to listen, comprehend and implement into my own life. Your videos helped me achieve more. Your videos are like and island in this constant stream of media. Sticking out because of their unique angle on topics. Thank you for the positive impact you have on so many people.

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you so much for your lovely comment, I really appreciate you saying so :-) More to come!

[@anjaxstudios5619]

I've been dealing with some bad anxiety as of late and this video was just what I needed to help get myself mentally back on track. Thank you so much for all of your videos!

[@NoBoilerplate]

We all have periods of anxiety, glad you found the video useful! Come chat on my discord if you like! Lots of nice folks there 🙂

[@skyleite2065]

This video had been sitting in my watch later playlist for like a month, because I was sure it'd make me sob uncontrollably just like the other video of yours I watched. And that it did. I don't know what it is about someone speaking so eloquently about topics I struggle to describe even to myself that make me so emotional, but it feels great. I want to find more content like this. Thank you

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you so much for your comment, I'm sorry-not-sorry for the reaction! My Autism video is coming early February, so do look out for that :-)

[@Yadobler]

4:32 I think I like the programming paradigm "Tell, don't ask". Learnt it in Programming Methodology 2 in uni, for OOP. Someone tells you something and you don't understand - tell that you don't. Want to clarify something? Tell them your state and request to be corrected. Need something done? Tell them to politely do it. The moment you ask - and like with most OOP Design flaws, the barriers between Encapsulation falls and so will the abstraction - you can't cater specifically for each and every unique friend / mate / coworkers and craft your requests - you need to abstract it out so that it's you giving info out to them, and then they return it When you start to ask, there is this open-endedness, kinda like you past a void pointer and ask the requested data to be set to the void pointer - you don't know what this pointer type will be, and it can be easily hijacked. It's not malicious for people to recondition your request into their own terms and commands, it's just natural because you wanted a response for a question - but if you set the command first, even by rephrasing your question into an imparitive and making it polite, you will set the decorum, set the conditions, which then the response can be only based on what you've laid out. It also sets a "default if no response" prompt, which would be overridden if there is truly an opposion, whereas if there isn't any default then the person might have to guess or might easily say no And I think it also forces you to also rethink what you truly are asking. Because "help im stück" doesnt Tell much info. But "this last line is not a real integer" is more informational. Sometimes you realise it when you have to think of how to instruct someone to help you. You're "helping yourself by helping them help you". ---------- "hey if you don't mind, I would like your number" Vs "hey if you don't mind, can I have your number" ----- "please do the dishes." Vs "can you do the dishes?" -------- "I think you will not like this flavour, do reconsider" Vs "are you sure you want this flavour?" ---------- "I don't understand this question / don't get this part / follow the question. Please teach me / show me / explain to me / go through line by line" "how to do this question?"

[@dsdy1205]

6:40 It's been pointed out that eating the frog can be very hard, and can indeed build shame and discourage you if the "frog" of the day is so byzantine / overwhelming that there's no way you'd be able to eat it after just waking up. The problem is worse if for whatever neurodivergent reason your brain needs to "warm up" before it can hit its stride. If you face this problem too, an alternative that still captures the benefits of "eating the frog" is "build up speed". Hit the day running with as much acceleration as you can muster. Start with the easy tasks, but constantly ramp up your tempo throughout the day until you have enough mental momentum to tackle the frog, ideally somewhere around mid-day but possibly even later on in the evening. Then, having eaten the frog, the rest of the day progresses in a similar fashion. Crucially, judge your success by the acceleration you put in (intensity of effort) and the final momentum you reached (duration of sustained effort). Sometimes it's not enough to eat the frog, but you can be glad that you gave it a good shot, and improve on the acceleration phase for tomorrow by noticing things that slowed you down.

[@NoBoilerplate]

Very true, many people have said this 'build up' method works well for them!

[@LinkEX]

You provided a nice introduction link for Obsidian. Nicole does an awesome job at giving both practical tips and examples at varying degrees of depth for notetaking, specifically regarding Obsidian.

[@sweetlulu4306]

Thank you for this. I still come back here to listen this as a refresher :)

[@NoBoilerplate]

My pleasure, hope it's helpful!

[@mnmlst1]

Loved de video. As an autistic + adhd person, those are extremely helpful tips! It's important to note that sensory overload is also common in disorders like bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, among many others. This is why it's important to get a proper assessment with a professional in the field before jumping to an autism diagnosis.

[@NoBoilerplate]

Absolutely. I didn't make it clear in the video, but I was diagnosed as a child. Super important to get these things diagnosed early, I'm going to make another video specifically on my experiences there.

[@Tangi_ENT]

I had looming student debt payments. Realisation that I’m a failure. Work overwhelm. I felt so … weak, melty. Escape gnawing at me. Then I remembered you recommended this video to me. Number 13….. wow. Thanks for the reminder. I guess I’m quite susceptible to negative emotions, that’s why I’m like this. I run away quite easily, and the world is quite unkind. Thank you for this wonderful resource. I’ll make sure to utilise the lessons.

[@NoBoilerplate]

My pleasure, these are just 18 coping mechanisms that work for me - you'll find your own with slow daily improvements :-)

[@matematikaadit]

3:33 "In the face of ambiguity refuse the temptation to guess". This, this is what I need now. Thanks for putting it here. Brb, gonna call someone.

[@NoBoilerplate]

Get to the bottom of it!

[@pitri_hub]

Seeing this video is so fascinating. You're giving some solid advice there, and delved into some unexpected areas, like neurodivergence. I'm pretty sure your youtube channel is the one that taught me about the existance of obsidian around 10 months ago. Funnily enough, when I realized how monumental this recommendation was, and I tried to go back to the video where you talked about it (I wanted to make sure I remember the source), I couldn't find it anymore. I know it was somewhere at the end of a video, but my youtube history wasn't helpful.... Anwyays, I have ADHD as well (honestly mixed signals if I have autism or not), but finally getting my hands on something like obsidian really changed my note taking game. I spent a few weeks just digitalizing my hand-written notes that were taking up space on my desk in a chaotically ordered fashion, and moving countless random .txt files I had from various different folders on my computer into my vault. It really changed how I store information. And just like you, I've already had the realization that our memories (but especially neurodiverse ones) are unreliable and lossy, so a personal knowledge management system was just what I needed. Thank you for that. Seriously.

[@NoBoilerplate]

My pleasure! Do look up autism symptoms, adhd and autism often go together, at least partially. Girls are also under-diagnoses with autism (if that applies to you!) The video you're thinking of is kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5fEfZ5rq5iKb5I

[@Vlad-pz1oh]

I actually cried in the end Dunno why Very helpful video, that is. Thank you.

[@NoBoilerplate]

My pleasure

[@cherryblossom8061]

By the time I got to the fourth one, I thought “man, he’s like me, I wonder if he realizes that these tips are autism-friendly.” AND THEN YOU CONFIRMED. Thank you for sharing your tips in a straightforward manner 💕 saving this to revisit when I need the reminders

[@NoBoilerplate]

How nice!

[@haifutter4166]

And I thought this was normal, since his thought processes and even his set of coping methods is quite similar to mine.

[@gabrieljankowski9159]

I have ADHD, and found this channel through the Obsidian vid before I got on meds. Back then, I was like “this seems cool, but idk if I could keep up. I’ll save this for later though”. Once I started meds, I found myself taking notes (on the iPhone notes app) about basically everything and thinking “I need to use Obsidian”. I rewatched the video (taking detailed notes) as soon as I had some free time. That vid recommended this one, which I put on my to-do and just got to now. I ended up just naturally doing a lot of things that you recommended in this video (tagging my notes to filter them, eating the frog), which was exciting to find out! It’s really helpful seeing someone further along on their journey, doing similar stuff, but with more insight and refinement. Once I finally make my way through the piles of stuff my pre-meds self left me (I’m only on day 7 lol), I’m excited to implement more advanced patterns and tools into my life. Thanks for the vids!

[@NoBoilerplate]

My pleasure! I'm so happy you've found treatment that works for you, my friends say it's so transformative - and getting into obsidian at the same time sounds like a wild life change!

A lot of key takeaways from this one! Taking notes in my journal. Speaking of, using a paper journal has made my life so much better when it comes to taking notes on things in need to do and as a log of what I previously did. There is nothing more satisfying than crossing off a task about sending all of your students their grades and feeling like the semester really is over.

[@NoBoilerplate]

oh congrats on that! Yes I have SO many paper journals in a box, each with a single page written XD I've come to accept that, just for me, digital is the way forward, but I still watch videos about paper journals too!

[@LinkEX]

@@NoBoilerplate Digital is the way forward indeed. At least when reaching a certain scope of note-taking. Countless single pages notes in a box? Sounds familiar. Mine are even scattered about multiple boxes, and the reason why I even consider taking physical notes a bad habit at this point.

[@LinkEX]

There is an advantage to having paper notes in addition to digital. But in my experience, only if there's a usage separation between the two. Physical notes are exclusively for reminders that I have to get done this day or this week.

[@willianscassiano8523]

Thanks!

[@NoBoilerplate]

That's so generous, thank you! I hope telling my story and sharing the big coping mechanisms is helpful for folks :-)

[@_shery.]

Can you please please do a video on Obsidian.

[@NoBoilerplate]

I may do one day - Nicole's video I linked to is really good, I like her videos - ESPECIALLY how to run D&D on obsidian!

[@RenderingUser]

​@@NoBoilerplate run WHAT on obsidian?????

[@TheSast]

Two videos!

[@_rohitgupta_]

@@NoBoilerplate thank you for great video, before moving to Obsidian have you tried other platforms? like google keep, Joplin, apple notes (maybe)? What is that thing which you found better or new in Obsidian which was missing in other. Thank you

[@NoBoilerplate]

@@RenderingUser OH YES kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJPPqKNjitSjlZo

[@marcopaolovaleriovezzoli5776]

What a video... Thank you I'm just speechless. You managed to infuse a good deal of optimism to my day. Can't wait to see what would happen as I'm digesting all of your suggestions.

[@NoBoilerplate]

You're so welcome!

[@NickFields4]

"Keep at it champ, im proud of you, and it all works out in the end" 😢❤ This and the autism commentary hits hard. Much love

[@NoBoilerplate]

[@ronald1851]

Very wholesome, hope taking into account a couple of your tips will aid me in my job search!

[@WiihawkPL]

i think this is the fifth or so video about random topics where i've been called autistic

[@amairjavaid6456]

@@WiihawkPL I got news for you, buddy 🙃

[@GenericInternetter]

A good productivity trick i found is "time for a break but I'll just finish this part first". Literally take two steps as if youre walking away to go take a break, but in that moment think about the task you're halfway through and then tell yourself "I'll just finish it off before i go for a break". Then go back to the task, but in the back of your mind you're about to go for a break. Every time ive done this, I've worked very productively for sometimes hours on end without even realising the time thst has passed. Then when i do go for a break, it feels far better because it feels well-earned. Eventually you will accidentally train your brain to not even want a break until the task is done! The only small downside to this method is that you're also training your brain to expect a break after every large task is complete. This isn't a huge problem as it can be quickly overcome by thinking intensely about the next task as you start it.

[@lliw4934]

I've been doing some of these methods already, I'm 24 and when the pandemic began I began on a journey to discover that, I am, in fact, on the autism spectrum. Thank you for sharing your methods.

[@NoBoilerplate]

My pleasure, and do listen to Lost Terminal, it might help you in less practical ways :-)

[@porky1118]

5:38 I sometimes used Zim for wikis, but recently I only use markdown or some custom variant of markdown, which has less features and more formatting options and better formatting symbols. I avoid using binary formats for text in general. I write my own tools to display text in the way I want. I don't need hyperlinks anymore. If things belong together, I either try to put them in the same file or have a main file to point out the relations. For example for stories, I currently have one main file which lists all characters, the main plot and a list of scenes. Then I have a story directory, which has the same name as the main file, but without extension, where all the scenes are placed, named the same way as in the list of scenes in the main file.

[@NoBoilerplate]

interesting system! obsidian's got a great system called 'backlinks' that tell you what files link to the current file - LOVE that!

[@Alex-xl4xe]

I'm aspiring this guys self-reflecting abilitites and we as a community and me as an individual are lucky to have you here and share your experience. For note-taking: while it is on the cloud, yes, I really like to use Google Notes. Labels, notifications and whatnot are all available there and it's all synced. I should've probably seperated between work and private stuff more but I guess it'll' be fine.

[@NoBoilerplate]

if you want more, obsidian's really great, but if you don't value local-first data, try notion.so, also good!

[@hai0.0]

this is my favorite video ever, thank you. it’s all i needed to hear to get me started.

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you! best of luck in building your own habits :-)

[@skpcboy]

I am in awe. Half of this is what I've learnt myself going through university alone. I'm not diagonised with ADHD or autism, but I would definitely apply the other half of the stuff into my life. Thank you!

[@NoBoilerplate]

Wonderful!

[@acetsivle536]

For some reason I read your response in the way Mario says it (in the new 2D game) (^ ⁠▽⁠ ^;⁠)ゞ

[@acetsivle536]

Also thanks for this incredibly helpful video!

[@NoBoilerplate]

@@acetsivle536 my pleasure! Thank you!

[@The_Real_Tone]

Thank you for this video! I love the idea of framing this to your past self and while I’ve heard many of these strategies in a bunch of places your way of explaining them just clicked way easier for me. Keep up the great work :D

[@jadefae]

Wow.. I often read/watch advice online and I'm like "nah this wouldn't work for me", but 90% of this just feels so instinctively like it would be perfect for me. This is also TERRIFYING because it means I really really should start doing this all ASAP. Which is a little scary, I won't lie. Maybe I'll try rewatching this video every day and implimenting one new thing a day. See where that takes me. Thank you for this.

[@NoBoilerplate]

I'm so glad that it's resonated with you! Plenty of time to get things set up slowly, get the fundamentals down and do a little better each day :-)

[@duwangchew]

Great video. Especially the point about taking notes now for remembering things now really resonated with me. I have no trouble remembering things when asked to, but often struggle to even remember what "topics" I went through throughout the day. I'm still trying to turn this into a habit, but I'm definitely writing more things down than I used to a year ago.

[@NoBoilerplate]

I dream of a little device that I clip to my shirt that records everything I say or it hears others say during the day, and runs speech-to-text on it, and dumps that file to an SD card. I then have a private, offline, searchable memory.

[@kajzwinkels9795]

"Hi chris, this is future chris. Stop spending all my money" made me lol

[@NoBoilerplate]

Heh, sorry it's not clear, my name is Tris with a T! Happens all the time XD Yes, I think we all wish our past selves invested the money instead of buying treats HOWEVER I refuse to stop buying treats, so maybe my future self will ALSO have words for me...!

[@JakoTheWacko]

Please make more videos like this. This is fantastic.

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you so much, I might just do so!

[@SpektralJo]

This is great! I have autism, social anxiety and probably adhd. This all leads to me being severely unproductive. I have to share this with my therapist, maybe we try some of the ideas

[@NoBoilerplate]

thank you! Try little changes, that's how I got here :-)

[@NoBoilerplate]

@ProgrammingTeam Congrats on the diagnosis! Big life change, but you now have words to search for coping mechanisms 🙂

[@NoBoilerplate]

@ProgrammingTeam You've got it! I hear people say things like they are 10x more productive with either treatment or perfect coping mechanisms or both. Good luck!

[@albertswiecicki395]

It's one of those videos I'd love to like more than once. Thanks for creating such a dope content!

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you so much!

[@jacobmpp]

I wish I had this when I was young. This is almost exactly me. The snapping away negative emotions thing especially because I haven't met anyone else who does that.

[@NoBoilerplate]

You may find people who were bullied badly in school can do this too :-(

[@def1nt]

Sounds trivial, but I still needed to hear this. So thank you! I want to check your podcasts some day.

[@NoBoilerplate]

I'm so pleased 😁

[@Lanes100]

I've never been so called out in my life and I thank you sir. This cuppa is for you

[@NoBoilerplate]

I'm delighted, cheers! :-)

[@mjddev]

Thank you. It is quite funny how relatable a lot of this seems to be and I will certainly stick by this advice.

[@NoBoilerplate]

Probably we all could use some of these techniques!

[@harrison6082]

5:21 That's a good idea. I never thought to use hyperlinks in my own notes that link to my other files like that. 5:40 That's also a good point. Currently I'm using Google docs or Microsoft word, but there are certainly a lot of note taking sites that will probably go out of business. 9:09 9:12 Well put: "Notice the negatives, but feel the positives". It really is incredible how you can train yourself to do this. 9:36 It's important to remember this. 9:56 Timers 10:33 Humanize Organize Mechanize And how to prevent headaches

[@vibeymonk]

Just found your channel yesterday, thanks for all of this. Much love

[@NoBoilerplate]

You're so welcome!

[@vishaljain4915]

If it can be done before the due date, its a task not an event. Really helpful

[@tylercollins4125]

I was caught off guard by how targeted this video felt, but there was a lot of useful advice that I'll probably use

[@KnedlikMCPE]

As someone, who is diagnosed with mild Autism, Asperger's, OCD and an anxiety disorder, with something ADHD-like probably being in the mix as well, this video helped me realize a lot of things. It's funny how accurate KZbin's algorithm can be sometimes. Gonna try out Lost Terminal in a bit - it's very nice to hear about someone actually opening these topics.

[@NoBoilerplate]

oof, what a winning hand you have there! You might just love Lost Terminal, I wrote it for folks like us :-)

[@kreloxcz2297]

Ahoj, taky mám Aspergera a náhodou jsem našel tohle video. Nevím proč ti to píšu ale připadalo mi to jako dobrá "náhoda" :))

[@fusionid6647]

This is awesome to have you open up and share what you have experienced for everyone to learn, as a neurotypical you mentioning not explaining something correctly is something i do poorly so thats a good moment to make what i say easier for others to understand. Also after watching your video on obsidian, its a really good recommendation, Thank you.

[@NoBoilerplate]

obsidian is life changing!

[@Tigerseye41]

Tris, if you have difficulty staying hydrated I have some advice. My partner has a medical condition that requires him to drink a lot of water (abt. 1.75 gallons a day) and we've found that just H2O doesn't suffice to hydrate because you have to take your body's absorption into account. I recommend researching a good water filter first off to minimize what your body has to do to get rid of metal and minerals. I use ZeroWater. Second and perhaps most importantly, you need to stay stocked on all the electrolytes and L-citrulline, as well as vitamin C. That means sodium, magnesium, potassium salts and a bit of glucose. We get these by eating oranges and avocados daily, watermelon skin smoothies in the summer and l-citrulline suppliments otherwise, and taking Epsom salt dermally in the shower. Love your content, and I hope this helps your health.

[@NoBoilerplate]

oh INTERESTING! That's a bit more water than I drink, but maybe I should try a few of those things too. Thank you for the suggestion, I really appreciate it :-)

[@missflorathewriter9014]

I typically feel a lot better when I eat a serving of grapes or oranges. If that's not available, I have sliced cherry tomatoes on crackers.

[@NoBoilerplate]

@@missflorathewriter9014 that does sound nice!

[@davespriter]

i enjoyed this video. works well as context for other videos of yours. even for the things that don’t help me much personally, i think it helps a little to understand more about why you make certain recommendations so I can figure out how to map those recommendations to my own needs (:

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you for your kind comment! It was quite a personal video, I was initially a little hesitant, but the response has been wonderful!

[@minerj101]

More people need to speak out. This surprised me as someone with ASD, people hide it due to how people treat those who are deemed lesser. Most do not know the benefits and or struggles, which leads to masking.

[@NoBoilerplate]

I'm glad I spoke about it - I was worried it would be too personal a video!

[@TheThreatenedSwan]

It seems inevitable that if a natural hierarchy is acknowledged, more individualistic people think that justifies treating people who are seen as having less of a desirable trait cruelly thus why they project: oh you think men and women are different, you must hate women, or, you think x group is less intelligent, you must want to genocide them. Unfortunately autism is correlated with being more individualistic so they like being flattered and getting special privileges even at the expense of the group. Also there are issues like hypersexuality and fetishism

[@Paladin101]

Wow! This is excellent and every point is artfully conveyed.👏

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you so much!

[@SADDE]

This video left me shocked. I saw a lot of myself in you and I notice we took a very similar path towards self-improvement. Carrying a notebook around is a tip I found out from Dr. Russell Barkley in his talk on ADHD. Habit stacking and the 1.01^365 helper are the top two things I got left with after reading Atomic Habits. And recently I found out I have autism, and LGBT issues have started to become my special interest. Although I haven't had the time nor the energy to dig deep into them, school work and exams have been killing me :(

[@NoBoilerplate]

I'm delighted that some of the ideas resonate. I should read atomic habits! Everyone says so! It sounds like you'd be interested in my little hopepunk story, Lost Terminal? The first season has bite sized 5min episodes, so I hope is easy to get in to! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmTFdXhvoNitg8U

[@SADDE]

@@NoBoilerplate thanks, I already bookmarked it

[@jesselooney2141]

Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I think you are awesome. All your Rust videos are of course fantastic, and so are your more recent videos on all your topics. The more I learn about the other things you do in your life, the more I become curious about how you run every detail of your life. I so deeply appreciate your methods and systems and organization because that is how my brain works too, and it’s so awesome to see someone speak concisely and coherently about systems and strategies they have already developed though experimentation-the same ones I am just beginning to explore myself. Basically, you are a phenomenal role model for living a rationally-ordered life. I love every video of yours that I have seen, and I am always looking forward to the next way you can show me something cool or revolutionize my perspective about something others overlook. Stay awesome.

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you so much, that's so kind of you to say! Perhaps you'll be interested in *my* role model: CGP Grey, he runs his life like a machine! Do listen to the CORTEX podcast, where he talks about his own methods.

[@jesselooney2141]

@@NoBoilerplate I love CGP Grey! I haven’t listened to his podcast though, I’ll be sure to check out that one and yours as well!

[@maxpursian]

As always, lovely video! I have always aimed to improve my productivity in similar ways, this feels like a good starting point to actually set off, and not be stuck in analysis paralysis. Even with the fact that I feel like I somewhat fit the autism/adhd criteria, this video can be an awesome resource. Thanks!! Once I'm done with my bachelor thesis in a few weeks, I will start focussing on building my own system :)

[@NoBoilerplate]

How exciting! There's lots of good stuff out there, keep learning :-)

[@abdullahyaser9073]

Awesome video, simple and straight to the point, i know you tried your best to make the video as simple as possible, yet i find my self rewinding the points again and again, sometimes i was distracted by something else and sometimes I couldn't comprehend the point, I guess this is a weaknes in me that i would have to work on, anyways thank you a lot, becuase of this video i had a lot of realizations on the way I run my life.

[@NoBoilerplate]

If you would prefer to read the script, it's all available in markdown on my github repository - link in the description. I am glad it's useful!

[@theAnalystMan]

This is how all youtube videos should be! Very lean and to the point, thanks

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you so much! I try to be!

[@xxwarpigxx]

Something that has been a great help for me is the use of reusable notebooks because as you said I need to write things by hand to remember them but also having so much notebooks was starting to bother me when looking for something specific

[@TeaMaster420]

"You my dude, have autism" ~ No Boilerplate

[@nUrnxvmhTEuU]

I, and various other people on the internets, have found that "eat the frog" is a terrible strategy for our ADHD. Often what happens is that I just stare at the frog and resent myself for not being able to do it, feel worse and worse, and eventualy just crumble down, overwhelmed. If I start with the easiest, quickest thing on the todo list instead, it helps me get the emotional state and the momentum to face the worse tasks.

[@NoBoilerplate]

Very reasonable, I've had many folks say the same!

[@rajzakku8829]

4:08 - 4:21 As a person with congenital hearing loss, that couldn't be further from the truth. People may love to talk, but they HATE to repeat themselves and act as if they are offended or annoyed when you ask them to.

[@NoBoilerplate]

I hadn't thought of it like that - you're right, of course. I was only thinking of my direct experience with my friends and family when I wrote this line. I still think it's good advice, to ask for someone to repeat themselves if you don't understand, but yeah, many people will react as you say :-/

[@rajzakku8829]

@@NoBoilerplate Yeah, it's a no-brainer for people that trust you and know you and your conditions, but it's really tiresome to remind every stranger you meet face to face that hearing impaired people do exist. I'm also aware it has a huge component on self-confidence, people skills and personal growth, which is why I'm always open for advice in videos like this one.

[@NoBoilerplate]

@@rajzakku8829 I hope the other points were useful 😄

[@rajzakku8829]

@@NoBoilerplate They do indeed, as well as your The Cult of Done video 👍

[@NoBoilerplate]

@@rajzakku8829 oh super! I'm very interested in this kind of thing, so watch this space for more 🙂

[@demuscotecomay]

You are one of the few creators I'm happy to watch without 2x playback speed.

[@NoBoilerplate]

Thank you! this is by design, I'm delighted it is working :-)

[@harshmudhar96]

I declare.... BANKRUPTCY!!!!!!!

[@LilliHerveau]

You have no business being this good of a motivational speaker. All of it is sound advice that I've heard already, and yet it hits again when you say it. And wouldn't you know, I'm writing my dissertation, so this is most welcome. DO NOT OPEN YOUR BROWSER

[@NoBoilerplate]

omg good luck! Make sure you watch Tim Urban's video on procrastination kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6PNaKKJqax_obc and read Ultralearning!

[@joranmulderij]

Thank you so much for mentioning Obsidian. I've been looking for something like this for a very long time. Owning my data as opposed to Notion.

[@NoBoilerplate]

EXACTLY. It's just 2 devs, too, so don't be afraid to pay for the sync service, it's EXTREMELY worth it to have your brain on your phone!

[@sdrawk3611]

I think this has to be the most valuable video I have ever watched! This will actually change how I do LIFE

[@NoBoilerplate]

I'm so pleased! Do build your own, and I'd love to learn if you have any breakthroughs that might help me or others! Come say hi in #mental-health on my discord!

[@NullEenDrie]

This video has helped me so inmeasurable, keep up your work

[@NoBoilerplate]

I'm so pleased, thank you very much for saying so!

[@porky1118]

1:20 That's something I recently started to do more organized. I always wrote down my ideas, but only in order to go into detail. First I only used paper, then I used text documents, but only recently I started to write down some of my ideas in a central place, which is synchronize using git. I'm mostly talking about stories. Often I just write down the idea itself, sometimes just one title line, often also a bit of context. Basically everything I have in mind mostly unfiltered. Some time ago, when I had an idea, I tried to create something out of it. Instead of just writing down the idea, I strated writing a story. And I thought about an introduction. I wrote the introduction, and sometimes I just wrote an introduction without even arriving at my core idea. Sometimes the intro even went somewhere else.

[@NoBoilerplate]

nice!

[@mischiefner]

this is so cool and funny, I'm so glad algo blessed me with your channel

[@NoBoilerplate]

me too! Thank you :-D

[@AmHumanMaybe]

I myself have mild ADHD with the biggest issue being the executive function aspect. It can be huge challenge for me each day to make the first step towards a harder but important goal. I already have implemented some of these tips but there were certainly a couple of new ideas here. I also enjoyed the whole vibe of your video. Thank you!

[@NoBoilerplate]

I sympathise greatly! Though I don't suffer from executive dysfunction much, it's TERRIBLE for my wife! Chocolate sometimes helps, but medication would REALLY help here afaik.

[@Ozzianman]

​@@NoBoilerplate I have ADHD myself and I am on 45mg Concerta. Helps me to the point where I can keep a full time job, but I still got issues. The main cause of ADHD boils down to a chronic chemical imbalance in your brain. Your brain either produces too little dopamine, or it removes the dopamine too quickly. Below average dopamine levels directly affects your executive function and your ability to regulate your attention. There are tons of ADHD medications available (stimulant and non-stimulant) and everyone reacts to them differently.

[@NoBoilerplate]

@@Ozzianman glad the medications help, I'm very fortunate that my elaborate coping mechanisms allow me to function at a high level, though I've always wondered what medication would afford me...

[@technologyondemand4538]

10:55 that algo can be simplified by just pointing the "wait 30 min" back to the "headache" under "start" and removing the second "headache".

[@NoBoilerplate]

it can! I'm so bad at flowcharts! At least I got time going down and branching to the right ;-)

[@technologyondemand4538]

@@NoBoilerplate to me it looks the same as looking at code. just a different mapping of the same logic ^-^

[@schrenk-d]

This is beautiful. I did something similar to myself quite a few years ago. Writing a letter to my past self (was 35-sh at the time, and I wrote it for my 18-year-old self) I must admit, it has probably taken me quite a bit longer to get from realisation to consistently improving, though.

[@NoBoilerplate]

You'll get there friend

[@schrenk-d]

@@NoBoilerplate Thank you! I sure hope so...

[@Youbuu2]

THIS VIDEO HAS CHANGED MY LIFE, THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@Youbuu2]

I felt deeply lost and underproductive and stupid and all the nasty things one can feel about themselves, but this is what I needed to hear. Thank you so much.

[@NoBoilerplate]

I'm so glad! It's so easy to be self-critical isn't it! We're all good and bad at different things, but we can, usually, build processes to improve things.

[@Ugunark]

I like this, because I am constantly building/working on my elaborate coping methods and it's cool to see yours. We don't overlap much except in obsidian, but seeing you engage in the process is supremely validating and fascinating.