Umarbek

The Invisibility Test

There's a simple test for whether you actually want something.

Would you do it if no one ever found out?

Travel. You should only go somewhere if you're not bringing a camera. If you're not telling anyone except family.

This thought makes people uncomfortable. Because most of what we do, we do for others.

We've gotten so used to performing for an invisible audience that we've forgotten what genuine desire feels like.

The test works for everything.

Would you start a company if you couldn't tweet about being a founder?

Learn piano if no one would ever hear?

Read books if you couldn't drop titles in conversation?

Most of what we think we want is actually we don't want.

The reverse test is equally useful.

Would you keep doing something if people actively disapproved?

If friends thought you were weird?

Real preferences are private. They're things you'd choose even if choosing them made you invisible.