Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World

What part of the pact can be adjusted so I can keep learning

Every moment you invest in a direction that no longer resonates is a moment you could have invested elsewhere, in a commitment that could offer you more fulfillment.

Only through combined action and reflection can we achieve meaningful growth: trial and error create a feedback loop of guaranteed learning—a successful cycle of experimentation. By combining your pact with a metacognitive practice, you have now created your own life laboratory, equipped with everything you need to learn through deliberate action a

Dance with disruption.

Broaden the decision frame. There is more to success than scaling up. You have three choices: persist with your current path if it’s rewarding, pause if it’s proving unfulfilling, or pivot to better suit your evolving circumstances. Every crossroads offers a chance to learn and grow; spend time exploring all internal and external factors before cho

Design growth loops. If you want to grow, action is nothing without reflection. Master metacognition, the practice of reflecting on your thinking, so that you become not only aware of your thoughts and emotions but skilled at regulating them.

Embrace imperfection. You cannot excel at everything simultaneously. Long-term excellence comes not from maintaining perfect balance but from prioritizing what is most important at any given moment. Identify perfectionist patterns, challenge unrealistic targets, and aim for intentional imperfection. This is not a permanent compromise, but rather th

Make friends with procrastination. Procrastination is not an enemy to be conquered, but a meaningful signal that something is amiss—a mismatch between your rational aspirations (head), your emotional needs (heart), and your practical skills (hand).

Let go of the chronometer. Shift your focus from Chronos, the quantitative definition of time, to Kairos, which emphasizes the unique quality of each moment. Manage your energy, executive function, and emotions rather than your minutes. Optimize for the depth of experience rather than the speed of achievement. Remember that life is not about how mu