Hooked: An animated short about effort

No matter how hard we try, things don't always turn out the way we want. Being aware of this is the first step to avoid getting hooked on repetition and exhaustion.

This is precisely the message that the animated short called “Hooked” sends us. Thanks to the Institute Institute of Psychological and Psychiatric Assistance Mensalus, we present an interesting reflection on failed attempts.

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Are there efforts in vain? A short film explains it

Before we start, you can watch the video below:

What message can we extract after seeing the protagonist's attempts?

Sometimes our efforts have the opposite effect; the short film reflects it from the sense of humor. Be that as it may, learning emerges from every experience.

In relation to this, today we focus special attention on one of the conclusions of the story: the result of the solutions attempted. it is the one that will guide us towards the next action: change or continue (what will the fish do after having multiplied the number of hooks?).

In order to carry out a good analysis, it is useful to assess the initial objective (swim calmly in the sea) and quantify the level of satisfaction obtained (0% satisfaction: now there are 20 more hooks), to decide if we want to persist in the same solution (I keep looking for ways to fool the hook) or change our solution. strategy.

Well then. Although it may seem strange, sometimes we ignore this analysis, we get stuck in the first solution attempt and stop considering the rest of the options.

Why is this happening?

Mental flexibility and creativity are two elements that make it easier to see ourselves in new scenarios and find ways to feel satisfied in them. When these capacities are not involved, stagnation occurs: tried solutions proliferate despite not obtaining successful results.

As we mentioned, in this case it would be great if the fish stopped approaching the hooks and opted to enter the seabed in search of the desired tranquility. Who knows. Maybe, after the ring strategy, he did.

Even seeing the new options, we may not be heading towards action, why?

Good. We may apparently see other options but, in reality, we have not developed a deep knowledge about it. To what extent have we thought about what is its mechanism/benefit? To give the opportunity to a new option, full, conscious observation is necessary. Only in this way will we find a utility and meaning.

What else influences the ability to devise new solution paths?

People get hooked on repeating a single solution also due to a lack of permissiveness (“I must solve it this way") and out of fear of what might happen and/or how we might feel if we leave the "zone known”.

Seeing ourselves in new roles and contexts can be associated with beliefs that raise unnecessary alarms. Those irrational thoughts that are related to the loss of privileges (“so far I have and then perhaps not") and the fracture of our identity ("I am like this, will I be able/will I know how to be otherwise?"), feed the immobility

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What can we do to be more permissive with ourselves?

To begin with, empathize with our person at the same time that we connect with our rights. What we would say to a good friend is a good introduction.

Phrases such as: “stop and rest”, “take the time you need to think”, “if you don't get there, you don't get there”, “today you've done enough. Leave it here and recover energy for tomorrow”, “why would it have to go wrong?”, “you can”, etc., are examples of messages that we easily communicate to those people we love... Do we do the same with us?

Being our own friendly voice is the first step to explore and not get HOOKED in repetition and exhaustion.

It is very funny when the protagonist wants to deceive the hook with a ring and generates an explosive effect. What other message can we extract from this anecdotal fishing?

What for the fish does not have the slightest value, for the fishermen it is a treasure.

In real life the same thing happens. Each of us give value to what is in line with our beliefs and needs (it is then when we find meaning).

Continuing in the line of reflection, below we propose four questions to connect with our system of values:

• “What do I consider “a treasure” in my life?”
• "What level of well-being/satisfaction do I get when I connect with him?"
• "What do I do to take care of it?"
• “How do I want to continue taking care of him?”

This is a good exercise to promote thoughts that connect with the elements that give meaning to our lives.

Perhaps, when we seek personal well-being and balance, remembering what makes us happy will redirect the steps we decide to take. Of course, without staying... hooked.