Spirituality is deep chemistry

Past is a country from which we emigrated. Rushdie

Lyf is tragedy. Ends in Dth

Ego energy

 “Ego energy” usually refers to the idea that your self-control, willpower, and decision-making draw from a limited mental resource.

In psychology, this is closely tied to the concept of ego depletion, popularized by Roy Baumeister.

The basic idea

• You have a finite pool of “mental energy” for:
• resisting temptation
• making decisions
• staying disciplined
• As you use it throughout the day, it gets drained
• When it’s low, you’re more likely to:
• procrastinate
• give in to impulses
• make poorer decisions

Classic example

After a long day of:

• focusing at work
• making lots of decisions
• dealing with stress

You’re more likely to:

• skip the gym
• eat junk food
• mindlessly scroll

Not because you “don’t care”—but because your regulatory capacity is tired.

But here’s the important update

The ego depletion theory has been heavily debated in modern Psychology.

• Some studies supported it
• Large replication studies found weaker or inconsistent effects
• Current view: it’s not a simple “battery drains to zero” model

Instead, factors like:

• beliefs about willpower
• motivation
• context and rewards

also play a big role

A more accurate way to think about “ego energy”

It’s less like a battery that empties, and more like:

• a system that’s sensitive to fatigue, attention, and motivation
• influenced by what you expect and value in the moment

Practical takeaway

Even if the strict theory is debated, the pattern is real:

• Decision fatigue is real
• Friction matters
• Environment shapes behavior more than raw willpower

That’s why strategies like:

• reducing decisions (routines)
• planning ahead (like WOOP)
• shaping your environment

work better than just “trying harder”

If you want, I can connect this directly with WOOP and premeditatio malorum—they actually fit together into a really solid system for behavior change.

WOOP

 WOOP is a practical mental strategy that pairs surprisingly well with ideas like premeditatio malorum. It was developed by psychologist Gabriele Oettingen and is grounded in research on motivation and behavior change.

What WOOP stands for

• Wish – What do you want to achieve? (realistic, meaningful)
• Outcome – What’s the best result if it happens?
• Obstacle – What’s the main internal barrier in your way?
• Plan – What will you do when that obstacle shows up?

How it actually works

The key insight from Psychology research:
Positive thinking alone often reduces follow-through.

WOOP works because it combines:

• optimism (Wish + Outcome)
• with realism (Obstacle + Plan)

That “Obstacle” step is basically a modern, targeted version of premeditatio malorum—but focused specifically on what’s likely to derail you.

Example (simple and real)

• Wish: I want to go to the gym 3 times this week
• Outcome: I’ll feel more energetic and consistent
• Obstacle: I’ll feel too tired after work
• Plan: If I feel tired, then I will go for just 10 minutes

That last part is an implementation intention—a concept linked to Peter Gollwitzer—and it’s what turns intention into action.

Why WOOP is effective

• Forces you to confront the real friction point (not vague excuses)
• Pre-decides your response → less reliance on willpower
• Makes habits more automatic over time

One important caveat

If the “Obstacle” you pick is vague (“I’m lazy”), WOOP won’t do much.
It works best when the obstacle is specific and situational (“I scroll my phone after dinner”).

If you want, I can help you build a WOOP for something you’re actually trying to change—work, fitness, studying, anything.

PM

 Premeditatio malorum is a Latin phrase that translates to “the premeditation of evils” or more naturally, “anticipating potential problems.”

It’s a concept from Stoicism, especially associated with thinkers like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius.

What it means in practice

The idea is simple but powerful:
You deliberately imagine things going wrong—loss, failure, embarrassment, setbacks—not to be pessimistic, but to prepare yourself mentally.

Why Stoics used it

• It reduces fear of the unknown
• It builds emotional resilience
• It helps you respond calmly when things actually go wrong
• It increases appreciation for what you currently have

Example

Before an important meeting, you might think:

• “What if I mess up my presentation?”
• “What if someone challenges me aggressively?”

Then you mentally rehearse how you’d handle those situations. When (or if) they happen, you’re not caught off guard.

The key nuance

This isn’t doom-spiraling. The goal isn’t anxiety—it’s preparedness with perspective. The Stoics paired this with the idea that many external events are outside your control, but your response isn’t.

If you want,  I can show you a quick 2-minute version of how to actually practice it daily without overthinking it.

SS

 Instead of claiming “I think,"we should notice "thoughts happen."

Thoughts appear and pass, come and go.

I am their seer.

I am that which is prior to the arising and passing of thoughts.

I am as I am always.

-

I do not think. 

I am not a thought.

I am not a thinker.

I do not “do” thoughts.

I simply am. 

I am aware.

In awareness, thoughts are seen to come and go.

-

Thoughts are not "me,""mine,"nor "my doing."

They are perceived experiences arising and passing of their own accord.

This simple repeated recognition brings the gradual dissolving of mind identification.

Instead of "being the thinker,"just be.

Be as you are...the witness of all thoughts and their absence.

Allow yourself to experience the absence of thoughts as often as possible in order to grow clearer in the recognition of yourself being prior to them.