Ulysses Pact - how to prevent your future self from screwing up

Ulysses (aka Odysseus) is a Greek hero and King in Homer's Odyssey which describes his journey home after a long, drawn out war. Along the way, his ship had to pass by the Sirens, whose songs were said entice sailors to change course and suffer a shipwreck. 

Like any of us, he was curious about the Sirens' songs and he wanted to hear them for himself. 

But he also wanted to make it back home without a shipwreck. 

What did he do? 

Source: Wikipedia

As the captain of his ship, he ordered all his men to cover their ears with wax so that they do not get seduced by the Sirens' songs. Next, he made a pact with his men to bind him up on the mast, to ignore his demands of changing the course of the ship while they passed the Sirens and to have their swords on hand in case he breaks free from the mast. 

They survived the journey passed the Sirens without a shipwreck. 

This became known as Ulysses Pact or Ulysses Contract - a decision made in free-will today, to bind oneself in the future.

How to prevent your future self from screwing up

You may be rational at this very moment. 

However, as humans we are easily swayed by our circumstances. 

The concept of Ulysses Pact can allow use to make better decisions, build better habits and basically protect us from an irrational future self.

Goal setting using Ulysses Pacts

If you wish to increase the odds of accomplishing your goals, set up a Ulysses Pact. Bet against yourself with a friend - offer to pay your friend $100 if you fail to reach your goal(s).

Many also choose to pay for gym passes or access because they are more likely to hit the gym knowing that they have paid for it.

Make better decisions

In "Thinking in Bets", Annie Duke suggests using a Ulysses Contract to protect yourself against your future self. 

For example, automating salary allocation can help one become a better saver.

The concept of Ulysses Pact is also used in the real world across industries, here's an example:

Ulysses Pacts in today's context

Medical care

Living wills are a common example of Ulysses Pacts in the modern world. A living will (aka advance care directive) is made by an able person to direct the type of medical care they'd accept in the event where they become unable to communicate their desires. 

Takeaways

Having an Ulysses Pact in place sounds like a great idea. However, the key lies in the execution.

In Homer's tale, Ulysses' crew were told to make sure he is kept tied down or be ready to fight him if he were to break his pact. 

This I feel, is the crux to setting up an effective Ulysses Pact in real life. 

Signing an agreement with yourself or a friend alone isn't sufficient. The consequence of breaking the pact has to be significantly negative, to a point where you'd go out of your way to avoid it.