Introspective

An example of introspective analysis:

- I don't know what to do.

- Why not?

- Because I have this problem X, and I don't know what to do about it.

- Why is X a problem?

- Because I don't like X, because X causes dissatisfaction for me.

- Why does X cause dissatisfaction for you?

- Because it doesn't let me do this thing I want to do. It doesn't let me have this thing I want, that I expect, expectation E.

- So while problem X is true, you can't have fulfil expectation E?

- Right.

- So you want to remove problem X?

- Right.

- You want to solve/resolve/dissolve problem X, so then it is possible for you to fulfil E?

- Right.

- And only by you acting, can you solve the problem X?

- Yes.

- So how do you do solve it?

- I don't know.

- Well, what can you do?

- Well, I could take action A, or B, or C.

- So you do know what you can do.

- Yes, but I don't know if any of them will actually solve problem X.

- Well, you never really know if any action will have any desired effect.

- Not always, but in this case I have very little certainty.

- Ok, but you do know what you can do. So you do know what to do.

- Yes, but I don't know how to choose between them.

- Why not?

- Because I don't know if the option I choose will work.

- What does it mean for an option to work?

- An option works if it solves my problem. And it doesn't work if it doesn't solve it.

- And what's the problem if it doesn't work?

- Then I don't fulfil my expectation E.

- But you don't fulfil your expectation E already. Why not choose any option and try it?

- Because if I choose A and it doesn't work, then maybe it means option A was the wrong choice.

- And if it's wrong, it doesn't work?

- That's right.

- How do you know that any of these options will actually work?

- I don't know if they will.

- So you don't know if there is a right option.

- No.

- Then why not just choose any option?

- Because it could be wrong.

- But maybe all of them are wrong.

- Right. But if I choose one option and it doesn't work, then maybe another option would've worked.

- But you don't know that for sure.

- No.

- And you can never know. Why not do it anyway?

- Because I'm afraid it's the wrong choice.

- And how do you experience that it was the wrong choice? How do you experience wrongness?

- Feeling disappointment, and then feeling regret.

- Are you afraid of feeling disappointment and regret?

- Yes.

- Why?

- Because it feels bad. I don't like how they feel.

- And if you choose nothing, can you also feel disappointment and regret?

- Yes, also. But maybe less, because I won't have put energy into it.

- But surely, if you choose no option, your problem X will not be solved.

- No.

- Is it better to then, to maybe feel disappointment and regret by choosing an option, and maybe having problem X solved? Or to surely feel those same feelings, and surely continue to have your problem unsolved?

- I'd rather only maybe have my problem solved.

- Then you need to do something.

- Yes.

- You'll choose an option?

- Yes.

- Why?

- Because then maybe my problem will get solved. Because maybe I can fulfil my expectation E.

- Instead of surely failing to fulfil it?

- Yes.

- Ok.