Realization of Intentions
While showering, I had an eye-opening realization about how often we forget our intentions. We have things we want to do and things we want to avoid. What if we could send ourselves a message exactly when we need it most, especially when we’re at our weakest? This message could keep us from going astray.
The Concept of the App
The idea is to create an app that lets you record a 30-second audio clip of yourself speaking. You set it up for every app you visit, so when you open Instagram, for example, it plays an audio reminding you why you don’t want to scroll. In extreme cases, this could help prevent falling back into bad habits, like pornography addiction. Sometimes, a reminder is all we need to stay aligned with our intentions.
Challenges and Opportunities
The main challenge is getting people to record audios that are powerful enough to deter them from actions they want to avoid, like using Instagram unnecessarily. The app’s success depends on the impactfulness of these audio notes. If I can help users tap into their inner Shakespeare and articulate the root causes of their habits, that could increase the app’s effectiveness. For now, a simple app seems sufficient to test this concept.
Experimenting with Meditation and Impulse Control
I recently tried an experiment during meditation. Feeling unexpectedly hungry, I wondered if I could alleviate the sensation through my breath. By visualizing my out breath easing that hunger, I felt some relief. This concept could potentially apply to managing impulses we want to control, like mindless scrolling or other distractions that pull us away from our focus.