The number-one thing to filter out if you want more equanimity in your life? The news! Epictetus had it right: “You become what you give your attention to… If you yourself don’t choose what thoughts and images you expose yourself to, someone else will.” He also said that if we[…]
All posts under 365Project:2019
#785 Even if progress is imperfect and slow
Working on a problem reduces the fear of it. It’s hard to fear a problem when you are making progress on it—even if progress is imperfect and slow. Action relieves anxiety By James Clear
#784 Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay
What is perseverance, you might ask? The dictionary says: “Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.” And let me tell you, the delay will feel eternal and the difficulties will show up one after another. By Pachi Carlson
#783 Useful because it is hard
Many people assume they are bad at writing because it is hard. This is like assuming you are bad at weightlifting because the weight is heavy. Writing is useful because it is hard. It’s the effort that goes into writing a clear sentence that leads to better thinking. By James[…]
#782 Behavior happens when three things come together at the same moment
Information alone does not reliably lead to sustained behavior change. Now, information can be part of the puzzle but that alone doesn’t seem to do the trick for most people. Seeing statistics, seeing data won’t necessarily change somebody’s behavior in the long term. Behavior happens when three things come together[…]
#781 The intender fixates on success
When your labor is guided by intention, obstacles do not annoy or dissuade. The cloth will simply go beneath or around, as it must. The potted plant will be moved and wiped behind. The body will assume whatever positions need assuming. The intention ensures this. In any apparent attempt to[…]
#780 I want my attention back
Today, I could live on Twitter all day, everyday, convincing myself I was being productive. Or, at least inducing the chemicals in the mind that make me feel like I’m being productive. Read more news. Send more replies. Start more threads. Each incoming reply activating a corresponding dopamine pop. Largely[…]
#779 Email is where keystrokes go to die
Scott Hanselman, a Microsoft employee and productivity expert, was speaking about effectiveness on stage. And he was ready to make a simple, but important point. “Email is where keystrokes go to die,” he said. “You have a finite number of keystrokes left in your hands before you die.” His point[…]
#778 This is not your grave
Always falling into a hole, then saying “ok, this is not your grave, get out of this hole,” getting out of the hole which is not the grave, falling into a hole again, saying “ok, this is also not your grave, get out of this hole,” getting out of that[…]
#777 Waking up
“A psychotic world we live in. The madmen are in power. How long have we known this? Faced this? And—how many of us do know it? Not Lotze. Perhaps if you know you are insane then you are not insane. Or you are becoming sane, finally. Waking up.” in “The[…]