“One of the most effective means of seduction and self-deception is to set oneself a difficult task.”Franz Kafka · Aforismele de la Zürau · 1918 · Aforismul 5
A mission too big to finish isn't ambition, it's shelter: complexity spares you from doing anything real.
A difficult task looks noble, but it can work as a trick: because it is impossible to finish, no one can hold you accountable, not even yourself. Complexity becomes a shelter rather than a challenge. Someone who vows to rewrite an unfinished novel, learn three languages, and change careers is really avoiding writing a single page today.
Why it matters Useful when planning your year or career: if the plan is grand and vague, ask what you are actually avoiding doing today.