The path to mastery is not a steady climb but a series of dramatic leaps separated by long, flat stretches that test our resolve. David Foster Wallace understood this pattern intimately, developing a framework he called plateaux: periods of apparent stagnation that actually prepare us for transformation.  This concept, woven throughout Infinite Jest, is more than metaphor. By thinking through plateaux, we can better navigate the inevitable frustrations of growth, whether in creative pursuits, professional development, or personal challenges.

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