What If Getting Better Is a Con?

I've always had a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to self-improvement and optimization. As a journalist, I've seen my fair share of get-rich-quick schemes and wellness trends that promise the world but deliver little more than a handful of empty promises.

Take, for example, the obsession with "optimal" everything: the optimal diet, the optimal workout routine, the optimal life hack. It's enough to drive anyone crazy. And yet, we're constantly bombarded with messages telling us that we need to be better, faster, and stronger if we want to succeed.

The problem is that optimization promises a lot but delivers little in return. In fact, it often leaves us feeling more drained, stressed, and anxious than ever before. And yet, we keep going back for more, hooked on the idea that with just one more tweak, another gadget, or another guru's advice, we can finally achieve our goals.

The Tyranny of Technique

This is where the concept of "technique" comes in. French sociologist Jacques Ellul defines it as "the totality of methods rationally arrived at and having absolute efficiency (for a given stage of development) in every field of human activity." In other words, technique is all about streamlining everything to make life more efficient.

The problem with technique is that it promises a lot but delivers little. It's a never-ending cycle of improvement, where we're constantly tweaking and adjusting until we finally achieve the perfect outcome. But what happens when we reach the end of this cycle? What then?

The Dark Side of Self-Optimization

Self-optimization is a far cry from its wholesome-sounding name. In reality, it's a tool of control that preys on our deepest fears and insecurities. It tells us that if we just work hard enough, buy the right products, and attend the right workshops, we'll finally be able to achieve our goals.

But what about when we fail? What about when we hit roadblocks and can't seem to make progress no matter how hard we try? Self-optimization has a way of making us feel like failures, like we're not good enough or that we've somehow messed up the equation.

A Recipe for Despair

Self-optimization is also a recipe for despair. It pits us against time itself, telling us that if we don't keep pushing and striving, we'll never be able to achieve our goals. But what happens when the clock runs out? When our bodies break down, our minds become cloudy, and our spirits sink?

The answer is despair. Despair because we've been led to believe that self-improvement is a means to an end, not an end in itself. We're taught to value productivity and efficiency above all else, even if it means sacrificing our well-being and happiness.

A Different Way Forward

So what's the alternative? How can we break free from the cycle of optimization and find a more meaningful path forward?

The answer lies in embracing our imperfections and limitations. It means recognizing that we're not machines, but human beings with flaws and weaknesses.

We need to relearn the value of rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. We need to prioritize connection, community, and compassion over productivity and efficiency.

A Message of Hope

I know this may seem like a radical idea, but I truly believe that we can create a better world by rejecting the cult of optimization and embracing our humanity instead.

We can find hope in the fact that our lives are not defined solely by our productivity or efficiency. We can find meaning in the simple act of being present, of living in the moment, and of connecting with others.

A Different Epitaph

One day, I like to think that we'll find a different epitaph than the one that reads "Productivity was 0.01% above average" or "Life logged 10 hours of sleep, 5 miles of exercise, and 3 units of self-care." Instead, we'll find an epitaph that reads something like this:

"I lived a life of love, kindness, and compassion. I was present in the moment, and I made room for others to do the same.

I failed, but I didn't give up. I learned to laugh at myself, to forgive my mistakes, and to find joy in the simple things."