Why We Resist Simple Wisdom

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash Before you read: I use LLMs to help me proofread and edit my writing. What follows reflects my own thoughts and experiences — read on if you feel it’s worth your time. More on AI usage. Human beings have changed a great deal in technology, language, clothing, transportation, and lifestyle. But in our basic nature, we have not changed as much as we like to think. The same fears, desires, pride, impatience, and need for drama that shaped people thousands of years ago still shape us today. One of the most interesting examples of this is our tendency to reject simple advice because it feels inadequate. We often assume that a big problem must require a big, complicated, dramatic solution. If the solution is too simple, we become suspicious of it. We think, “That cannot be enough.” We expect something impressive, painful, expensive, or extraordinary. But many important changes in life come from ordinary actions repeated consistently over time. This is…