This essay contains an examination of handling information which is unpleasant to learn. Also, more references to spiders than most people want.

CW: Pictures of spiders.

1. Litanies and Aspirations

If the box contains a diamond,
I desire to believe that the box contains a diamond;
If the box does not contain a diamond,
I desire to believe that the box does not contain a diamond;
Let me not become attached to beliefs I may not want.

-Litany of Tarski

I read these words when I was around eighteen. They left a strong impression on me. While it's not frequent that I do so aloud, sometimes I respond to learning things have gone wrong by muttering them quietly. I've used them as words of comfort when people are anxiously awaiting important news.

The litany of Tarski is aspirational for me. It isn't always literally true.

If my mother's biopsy contains breast cancer, I really want the biopsy to contain no breast cancer. I am attached to that belief. Of course, the exact text of Tarski's litany is "I desire to believe that the box contains a diamond" not "I desire that the box contained a diamond."