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Hooked: a short on the value of the effort

Hooked: a short on the value of the effort

March 2, 2024

No matter how hard we try, things do not always go as we wish. Being aware of this is the first step in not getting stuck in repetition and exhaustion.

Precisely, this is the message sent to us by the animation short called "Hooked" ("enganchados" in English). Thanks to the Institute Psychological and Psychiatric Assistance Institute Mensalus , we present an interesting reflection on the failed attempts.

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Are there efforts in vain? A short film explains it

Before you start, you can watch the video below:

What message can we extract after seeing the protagonist's attempts?


Sometimes our efforts have the opposite effect; the short film reflects it from the sense of humor. Be that as it may, from all experience comes a learning.

In relation to this, today we focus special attention on one of the conclusions of the story: the result of the solutions attempted is the one that will guide us to the next action: change or follow (what will the fish do after having multiplied the number of hooks?).

In order to carry out a good analysis, it is useful to assess the initial objective (calm swimming by the sea) and quantify the level of satisfaction obtained (0% satisfaction: now there are 20 more hooks), to decide if we wish to persist in the same solution (I'm still looking for ways to cheat the hook) or change strategy.


As well. Although it seems strange, sometimes we ignore this analysis, we get stuck in the first attempt at a solution and we stop considering the rest of the options.

Why does this happen?

Flexibility and mental creativity are two elements that make it easier to see ourselves in new scenarios and find a way to feel satisfied in them. When these capacities do not participate, a stagnation occurs: the tried solutions proliferate in spite of not obtaining successful results.

As we said, in this case it would be great if the fish stopped approaching the hooks and decided to go deep into the seabed in search of the longed for tranquility. Who knows. Maybe, after the ring's strategy, I would do it.

Even if we still see the new options, we may not turn to action, why?


All right. We may apparently see other options but, in reality, we have not developed a deep knowledge about it. To what extent have we thought about what is its mechanism / benefit? To give the opportunity to a new option, full, conscious observation is necessary. Only in this way will we find a usefulness and a meaning.

What else influences the ability to devise new solutions?

People are hooked on repeating a single solution also for lack of permissiveness ("I must solve it in this way") and for fear of what may happen and / or how we can feel if we leave the "known area".

Seeing us in new roles and contexts can be associated with beliefs that arouse unnecessary alarms. Those irrational thoughts that are related to the loss of privileges ("until now I have and then maybe not") and the fracture of our identity ("I am like that, can / will I be otherwise?"), Nourish immobility.

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What can we do to be more permissive with ourselves?

To begin, empathize with our person while connecting with our rights. What we would say to a good friend is a good preamble.

Phrases of the type: "brake and rest", "take the time you need to think", "if you do not arrive, you do not arrive", "today you have done enough. Leave it here and recover energy for tomorrow "," why should it go wrong? "," You can ", etc., are examples of messages that we easily communicate to those we want ... Do we do the same with us?

Being our own friendly voice is the first step to explore and not stay ENGAGED in repetition and exhaustion.

It is very funny when the protagonist wants to trick the hook with a ring and generates an explosive effect. What other message can we draw from this anecdotal fishing?

What for the fish does not have the slightest value, for the fishermen it is a treasure.

In real life the same thing happens a little. Each one of us gives value to that which is in consonance with our beliefs and needs (that is when we find a meaning).

Following the line of reflection, below we propose four questions to connect with our value system:

  • "What do I consider" a treasure "in my life?"
  • "What level of well-being / satisfaction do I get when I connect with him?"
  • "What do I do to take care of him?"
  • "How do I want to continue caring for him?"

This is a good exercise to promote thoughts that connect with the elements that give meaning to our life.

Perhaps, when we seek personal well-being and balance, remembering what makes us happy will lead to the steps we decide to take. Yes, without staying ... hooked.


Signs he just wants to hook up and how to avoid being used! (March 2024).


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