Obligation Poison

Metaphorical Narrative

A porcelain cup labeled DUTY sits steaming.
You tilt it and see the darker swirl: TRIBUTE.
Beside it, a small stopper with one word: DONE. You drop it in; the swirl separates, then drains away.

Core Insight

Obligation becomes poison when it has no clear end-state.
Tribute says, “More, then more.” Duty says, “Do this, then stop.”

• Define Done before you begin.
• Calendar or Bin 98. No “forever tasks.”

Saturday Experiment

1. Define Done: One sentence: “Done = [deliverable + timestamp].”
2. Micro-Closure: After completion, say out loud: “We stop now.” Log a one-line proof.
3. Tribute Detector: If someone asks for “just one more,” reply: “What is the new ‘Done’?” If none, Bin 98.

Sunday Reflection

• Which task turned from tribute to duty after defining Done?
• How did saying “We stop now” feel in the body?
• Where do they need a standing line: “What is the new Done?”