Forever caught in limbo is the fate of the Duopoc. This creature is the emblem of the paralysis that can linger unresolved when we dwell too long on consequences and preparation. This mishapen entity resembles the half-choices we make in life and endlessly churn through our minds.
Attempting to define its shape is a challenge, one I set myself, for it never settles on one form. Instead, it resembles a ball of chaotic energy sparking off possibilities all around it. Sometimes it forms hands, mouths and other times it resembles a gasous form.
This ceaseless fluctuation is a result of its ability to be infinitely everything all the time, but unable to settle on the one, perfect shape for any one moment. Whether this stems from overthinking, fear of error, or the pursuit of perfection, the result is always the same—a creature trapped in constant contemplation.
The creature seems to be the mirror image of another gas-like monster, the confidence-boosting Motivon. Where that creature, if inhaled, causes rash decision-making, this one appears to be the other side of the coin and causes too much caution or analysis.
While I was studying the Duopoc, I encountered this first-hand. While I was working with a Duopoc, I received a lead on another, very rare monster sighted nearby. My time in the Duopoc's presence caused me to doubt my preparedness. I needed to ensure my first encounter was perfect, so I gathered all my equipment, even non-essential items just in case, I pored over research notes, made plans, backup plans and backup backup plans before heading to find the creature.
But the time it took to prepare caused the moment to slip away. Upon my arrival, the monster was nowhere to be found. From this, I learned the vital lesson from the Duopoc: sometimes we have to act despite things not being perfect, or we risk losing the opportunity altogether. Not acting in time is the same as not acting at all, and we cannot let the fear of failure or imperfection stop us from taking action.
I learned to set deadlines, break down my preparation into manageable parts and recognise when I was ready enough to act so I do not miss other opportunities in the future. Somewhere between the Motivon's call for action and the Duopoc's call for analysis is a perfect middle ground.
Most of all, I learned to trust myself and my abilities to adapt as I acted and not let the infinite possibilities stand in my way, because we miss every opportunity we do not take.