CFAR rationality technique for decomposing aversions into specific addressable components using the LEGO brick model. Use when the user: (1) avoids something they believe they should do, (2) says "I hate doing X" and wants to understand why, (3) wants to overcome a specific aversion, (4) practice decomposing emotional resistance, or (5) wants to understand the gap between what they want to want and what they actually want. Triggers: "aversion factoring", "I hate", "I avoid", "I can't make myself", "why do I resist", "overcome aversion", "ugh field", "CFAR", "decompose aversion".
CFAR rationality technique for identifying where you've entangled questions that should be separate, causing you to flinch away from evidence. Use when the user: (1) feels defensive about acknowledging something true, (2) conflates unrelated beliefs ("Am I a good writer?" with "Did I spell this correctly?"), (3) has trouble accepting feedback, (4) wants to practice detecting question substitution, or (5) notices they avoid thinking about certain topics. Related to Kahneman's attribute substitution. Triggers: "bucket error", "conflating", "flinching away", "defensive about", "question substitution", "entangled beliefs", "CFAR", "can't accept feedback".
CFAR rationality technique for resolving disagreements by finding shared underlying belief divergence points (cruxes). Use when the user wants to: (1) resolve a disagreement by finding the real point of contention, (2) prepare for a difficult conversation by mapping belief structure, (3) practice collaborative truth-seeking, (4) examine beliefs by finding what would change their mind, or (5) facilitate a structured disagreement between two positions. Triggers: "double crux", "disagree", "what would change my mind", "crux", "resolve disagreement", "find the real issue", "belief examination", "CFAR".
Gendlin's Focusing technique adapted by CFAR for accessing pre-verbal bodily knowledge ("felt sense") to gain insight on problems. Use when the user: (1) feels stuck and analytical thinking isn't helping, (2) wants to understand what they really feel about something, (3) needs to access intuition or gut feelings, (4) wants to check if their intellectual conclusions match their deeper sense, (5) is doing Internal Double Crux and needs to access each side's felt sense, or (6) wants to practice body awareness for better decision-making. Triggers: "focusing", "felt sense", "what do I really feel", "gut feeling", "body awareness", "Gendlin", "something feels off", "I can't put it into words", "check in with myself", "CFAR".
CFAR rationality technique for identifying where default frames artificially constrain perceived options and expanding the action space. Use when the user: (1) feels stuck with no good options, (2) wants to identify artificial constraints on their choices, (3) needs to expand their perceived action space, (4) feels obligated rather than choosing, (5) wants to explore what a "fair bid" from a situation looks like, or (6) wants to practice noticing where they've stopped considering alternatives. Triggers: "freedom of action", "no good options", "feel stuck", "feel obligated", "what are my options", "expand options", "default behavior", "comfort zone", "learned helplessness", "CFAR".
CFAR rationality technique for decomposing actions into their underlying goals and finding better paths to achieve those goals. Use when the user: (1) is considering a major decision and wants to understand their real motivations, (2) feels stuck doing something they don't enjoy and wants to find alternatives, (3) wants to check if their current activities actually serve their goals, (4) needs to resolve a conflict between two options by understanding the underlying goals, (5) wants to simplify their life by finding actions that serve multiple goals, or (6) wants to practice decomposing actions into goals. Triggers: "goal factoring", "why am I doing this", "what do I really want", "should I keep doing", "is this worth it", "alternatives", "underlying goals", "real motivation", "CFAR".
Guided introspection technique based on Richard Hamming's "What are the important problems in your field?" adapted by CFAR for life and career planning. Use when the user wants to: (1) identify the most important problem in their life or work, (2) find what's blocking their progress, (3) do a strategic life review, (4) practice deep introspection about priorities, (5) run a Hamming Circle with others, or (6) discover hidden bottlenecks. Triggers: "hamming question", "most important problem", "what should I work on", "biggest bottleneck", "life review", "strategic planning", "what's holding me back", "limiting factor", "CFAR".
CFAR rationality technique for resolving internal conflicts by facilitating dialogue between competing motivations or "sub-agents" within the mind. Use when the user: (1) feels torn between two options or motivations, (2) experiences "should" vs "want" conflicts, (3) can't motivate themselves despite believing something is right, (4) wants to understand procrastination or self-sabotage, (5) has internal resistance they can't explain, or (6) wants to practice parts-work for better self-understanding. Related to IFS. Triggers: "internal double crux", "IDC", "torn between", "part of me wants", "I should but", "inner conflict", "self-sabotage", "competing motivations", "parts work", "IFS", "CFAR".