Yesterday I came across a term called 'The Ulysses contract'. or 'The Ulysses Pact'. It refers to a method of controlling the mind in the face of immediate temptations.
While we experience diverse things in our everyday life, both the good and the bad experiences fade away slowly. What remains in the present thus carries more weight, and it exerts disproportionate influence on us, making us relinquish our long term goals for immediate short term ones, which might be unprofitable. For example, if one's aim is to loose weight, the temptation of a delicious icecream in front overrules our long term desire of achieving fitness. Overcoming such temptations, by the method of brute force is 'The Ulysses contract'.
According to the greek mythology, Ulysses was the greek super hero of the Trojan war. After the war, he undertook a long sea journey back home. On the way, there was an island, inhabited by damsels with exquisite voice, whose song attracted many of the ships. But the island was surrounded by sharp cliffs, which resulted in ship-wreak, and subsequent death of everybody aboard. Ulysses ship was to cross this area, and he too had a desire to listen to the damsels voice. What did he do in that situation?
Ulysses ordered all his sailors to put wax in their ears, and asked him to tie to a pole. Further, he ordered that after hearing the song, whatever he does like ordering sailors to go towards the island, screaming etc, that be disregarded and he be lashed with a whip. In this way, they crossed that part without inviting self destruction.
A variant of this strategy, called 'The Uncharity' has been used by some people to keep themselves on track. For example, if they break a promise to themselves, they donate money to an organization they don't like.
Where can the concept of Ulysses contract be used? Is it a foolproof method? For example, most people will agree that trying to taste drugs by invoking the Ulysses contract would be a foolish strategy. On the other hand, eating an extra icecream, and then jogging for double the amount maybe easily acceptable.
While many times we are uncertain about future decisions, Ulysses contract is a method to keep us on track in the face of a known certainty. We often know ourselves, our weaknesses, and our temptations. This type of brute force method helps to overcome then in our weakest of moments. Thus, go ahead, and sign some contracts for yourself !!
While we experience diverse things in our everyday life, both the good and the bad experiences fade away slowly. What remains in the present thus carries more weight, and it exerts disproportionate influence on us, making us relinquish our long term goals for immediate short term ones, which might be unprofitable. For example, if one's aim is to loose weight, the temptation of a delicious icecream in front overrules our long term desire of achieving fitness. Overcoming such temptations, by the method of brute force is 'The Ulysses contract'.
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| Image credit: http://www.futilitycloset.com/2014/02/06/the-ulysses-contract/ |
According to the greek mythology, Ulysses was the greek super hero of the Trojan war. After the war, he undertook a long sea journey back home. On the way, there was an island, inhabited by damsels with exquisite voice, whose song attracted many of the ships. But the island was surrounded by sharp cliffs, which resulted in ship-wreak, and subsequent death of everybody aboard. Ulysses ship was to cross this area, and he too had a desire to listen to the damsels voice. What did he do in that situation?
Ulysses ordered all his sailors to put wax in their ears, and asked him to tie to a pole. Further, he ordered that after hearing the song, whatever he does like ordering sailors to go towards the island, screaming etc, that be disregarded and he be lashed with a whip. In this way, they crossed that part without inviting self destruction.
A variant of this strategy, called 'The Uncharity' has been used by some people to keep themselves on track. For example, if they break a promise to themselves, they donate money to an organization they don't like.
Where can the concept of Ulysses contract be used? Is it a foolproof method? For example, most people will agree that trying to taste drugs by invoking the Ulysses contract would be a foolish strategy. On the other hand, eating an extra icecream, and then jogging for double the amount maybe easily acceptable.
While many times we are uncertain about future decisions, Ulysses contract is a method to keep us on track in the face of a known certainty. We often know ourselves, our weaknesses, and our temptations. This type of brute force method helps to overcome then in our weakest of moments. Thus, go ahead, and sign some contracts for yourself !!
