Predictability versus controllability in life experience

In summary: Meh, not really applicable to me.In summary, this young woman is questioning whether or not it is worth it to try and do something different in life, as everything seems to be so predictable and mundane. She also discusses talking to a doctor about her depression, as it is a serious issue. Everything in this world has a certain amount of predictability; some call it “odds”.
  • #1
P4PPY
17
0
Predictability:
Everything in this world has a certain amount of predictability; some call it “odds”.
I’m still young at 33, but I find it boring and redundant to even bother doing a lot of things in my life now. In some cases, it irritates me when someone asks me for my advice, or if someone asks me to make a decision.

Advice: They generally don’t listen, and it’s been proven every generation that young people don’t listen to old people. If they did, most of the children in this world would have a career, home, car and steady income before they even had sex. Can’t fight nature can we?

Decision making: My friends call me a pessimist, I prefer to call it common knowledge. Here’s an example of what I am referring to; A lady friend of mine tells me her brother is coming through town and has had some tough times lately. He needs to crash on her couch for a couple weeks before he gets back on his feet. She asks me if she should do it.
Now taking the information I know… He’s a good guy, just down on his luck lately. He’s a hard worker, drug free, and respects people as a whole, normally.

Anyone who has ever lived knows what happens here right?

He moves in and for the first 2 weeks he’s doing dishes, vacuuming, cooking dinner and picking up after himself. Why? Because he doesn’t want to be a burden… he wants to earn his keep. But what happens after those 2 weeks? Why does it almost always go the same way?

Skip ahead 2 weeks now…

He’s sitting on the couch watching Oprah and eating Bon-Bon’s. He still has no job, his clothes are all over the place and the sink is full of dishes.

You know it’s going to happen… so why even allow it to?
This is just an example of course… and this scenario can easily be explained. But there are a lot of things that happen in this world that are so damned predictable that it boggles me to even know why some do them.

You race out the door to go to the store only to find out you forget your wallet after getting to the checkout line. (Why race ever… ?)
You live pay check to pay check knowing that if your vehicle breaks down your screwed… but you still buy that DVD!

Justify it however you like, I’m bored with knowing what’s going to happen day in and day out. It’s like life isn’t much of a challenge… just mediocrity.

There are things out of your control of course.
Death is not controllable, everything that you can control revolves around living.

~Trapper
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
P4PPY said:
Predictability:
Everything in this world has a certain amount of predictability

You need a vacation.
 
  • #3
Possible :)

But what happens when you take vacations?

You spend way to much money, come back broke and exhausted, no one does the work while your gone and you have mounds stacked up in your office.

So you take a week off, go to Colorado and snowboard your butt off for a week only to come back and have twice as much work to do for the next week.

The only thing you have to show for it is some cool pictures and maybe a suntan :)

I'd rather cash in that week of leave and go buy a quad! muhahaha!

yah... I need a vacation me thinks!
 
  • #4
P4PPY said:
Possible :)

You might also talk to a doctor, you might be clinically depressed.
They have drugs for that.
I'm not joking. It can be serious business.
 
  • #5
JoeDawg said:
You might also talk to a doctor, you might be clinically depressed.
They have drugs for that.
I'm not joking. It can be serious business.

I'm pretty happy in my life.

This was more of a discussion I have been having with myself lately.

My friends call me "The oracle" as a joke because I predict everything they do. If I'm not right about something... I usually pretty damned close lol.

Does nobody else encounter this in their life? I guess what I'm asking here is, What is the next step of this generic life we live? Or am I just not living to my potential maybe?

I work 2.5 jobs, raise my daughter by myself and go to school part time. In my spare time the kid and I are playing on the 4 wheelers or camping on some remote island in SE Alaska.

Another question I was trying to ask was, Why do we do the things we do everyday when we already know the outcome? If the outcome is good, that answers itself right there... but if the outcome is bad, or not in our favor, why do we bother doing the initial steps that work up to it?

Maybe I should have done drugs! :)
 

1. What is the difference between predictability and controllability in life experience?

Predictability refers to the ability to anticipate and forecast future events or outcomes, while controllability refers to the degree to which an individual has control over those events or outcomes. In other words, predictability is about knowing what will happen, while controllability is about being able to influence or change what will happen.

2. Can we have predictability without controllability in life?

Yes, it is possible to have predictability without controllability in life. For example, we may be able to predict that it will rain tomorrow, but we have no control over the weather. Similarly, we may be able to predict that a certain action will lead to a specific consequence, but we may not have control over that consequence.

3. Is one more important than the other?

It depends on the individual and the situation. Some people may value predictability more, as it allows them to plan and prepare for the future. Others may value controllability more, as it gives them a sense of agency and autonomy. Ultimately, both predictability and controllability can be important for a well-rounded life experience.

4. How does having control over our life experiences impact our well-being?

Research has shown that having a sense of control over our life experiences can lead to increased feelings of well-being and satisfaction. This is because having control allows us to feel competent and capable of handling challenges and achieving our goals. On the other hand, a lack of control can lead to feelings of helplessness and frustration.

5. Can we improve our ability to predict and control our life experiences?

While we may not be able to predict or control everything in our lives, there are certain things we can do to improve our ability to do so. For example, setting realistic goals, developing problem-solving skills, and practicing stress management techniques can all help increase our sense of predictability and controllability in life. Additionally, seeking support and guidance from others can also help us navigate and cope with unpredictable or uncontrollable situations.

Similar threads

  • General Discussion
Replies
13
Views
4K
Replies
1
Views
850
  • General Discussion
Replies
24
Views
1K
Replies
8
Views
789
  • General Discussion
Replies
5
Views
945
  • General Discussion
Replies
6
Views
802
  • General Discussion
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • General Discussion
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • General Discussion
Replies
26
Views
4K
  • Other Physics Topics
Replies
1
Views
2K
Back
Top