Agreed. Anyone can share insights into how to do it better?

How can we "course correct" with "self-awareness and discipline"?

Self awareness means would be taking a step back and knowing if you're caught in a vicious cycle, trap, loop, pursuing something mindlessly.

Discipline would be turning this into principles you practice constantly, it's more of a lifestyle rather than a skill you "obtain".

For example, starting from the position of "I am taking on an idea where I may have knowledge gaps in" you first prompt for research and validation rather than execution. Even if the end result is you were right on your original design. (Sort of a challenge, adversarial, by default)

It will slow you down, but may lead to more sticky results.