I am still thinking about these posts on motivation. What do you need to move forward? Not technique by this time, or interest in project — technique helps and some level of interest is needed, but the fundamental need is peace of mind. You need a clear head. You need to be comfortable enough. You need a strong enough ego to consider that your hunches could be right.
I in particular need to stop thinking that it is technique or discipline I lack (although it is more research time and a narrower set of tasks I need, and although I know that it was when I renounced some research time for Reeducation that my task list broadened). So yes, I need to take more research time and make deeper use of it. But more fundamentally I think the kind of academic advice I need is different, for Vichy State and other things:
(Those were techniques of “denial” in Reeducation, but Reeducation was wrong.)
#OccupyHE
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
These things all seem to trend toward control, and you are already so self-controlled.
That’s a very perceptive comment. This is why I am impatient with the idea of getting yet more self-control, or pretense that all problems can be solved with self-control. I am also impatient with the fortress metaphor, self protection. I think one should think in terms of expanding one’s core and increasing agency (as well as flexibility and love).
My problem is that I have trouble coping with aggressive people, since I don’t have an aggressive nature. This has always put the onus on me to be under control, since I can control myself and aggressive people can’t, or more accurately can’t be bothered to control themselves. But I’m so much better at this than I used to be! Aggressive people used to confuse and depress me. No more! I just deal with their antics and go my own way, giving what I have to give and refusing to be a punching bag for moody people, power players, etc. I am old and do not have to put up with any shit I don’t like.