In his chautauqua on being stuck Robert Pirsig identifies the cause of “stuckness” has having too many tasks at hand for your mind to process. His solution to get unstuck is “don’t try to force it, that will only get you more stuck.”
But I think that’s only one form of being stuck, some kind of executive function overload. Maybe decision fatigue.
Elsewhere Pirsig talks about lacking the knowledge to solve a problem, and the difficulty in trying to gain that knowledge through a scientific approach.
I’ve done a little thinking on this and here’s what I’ve come up with about all the ways there are to be stuck. Each type of stuckness has its own set of solutions.
Blocked – something about the problem space has changed and the methods you are using no longer work. For instance “drive straight for five miles” stops working when there is a tree across the highway. I think this is the type of stuck that Pirsig was talking about with his frozen screw on the valve cover.
Trapped – you are in a situation that you can’t get out of. The harder you try to free yourself the more stuck you become. Think “finger catcher” or car wheel stuck in the mud.
Lost – you have no idea where you are.
Adrift – you know where you are but you lack the resources to move forward. Like a merchant galleon becalmed in the horse lattitudes.
Tantalized – your goal is continuously out of reach. See the myth of Tantalus, also Zeno’s paradoxes.
Each type of stuck has its own solutions. What works for one type of stuck may be the exact wrong solution for a different type of stuck. For instance if you’re adrift you may need to apply force, get out the oars and paddle. But if you’re trapped, applying too much force could get you more stuck.
Ways of Getting Unstuck
Blocked – gain more knowledge about the problem space in order to find a solution. It’s best to learn from someone with experience. See Expert Observation
Trapped – do the opposite. Gain understanding of the systemic forces involved. With a finger catcher you push your fingers further into the trap. With a tire stuck in the mud you apply force as slowly as possible.
Lost – get your bearings. Follow the river. Create a map.
Adrift – break out the oars. Apply effort. Get moving. Gain resources.
Tantalized – don’t test the gods. Be grateful for what you have.
SEE ALSO
