- On my 59’th anniversary on this planet, here are 59 things I have learned. Many of which I now wish I had learned earlier in life.
- The Obstacle is the Way
- Every great Hero had a guide.
- Maintain a bias toward action.
- External things can’t fix internal issues.
- Happiness is a choice
- Apply the Eisenhower Box to my To-Do list.
- Maintain a “not do” list
- In our journey, we never arrive.
- You only have one problem in this world. What is the next right action.
- The best (anything) is a paid for (anything).
- Between procrastination and burnout is Flow. Find the flow.
- Our minds are free and clear. Unless we take on debt
- Value what is under your means and you will always be satisfied.
- Value giving more than receiving.
- Explain complex topics to a six year old and everyone will understand.
- We feel fast and think slow. Give yourself time to think.
- Don’t believe everything you think.
- Deal with it. Don’t deny it.
- Just keep living.
- The actions you choose are your journey. Thoughts and emotions are the weather.
- Endless pleasure becomes it’s own form of punishment.
- the only thing truly in your power is your own reasoned choice.
- What is Happy? absence of attachment or desire.
- Formula for the good life? Acknowledge limited information, values and biases. Make the best decision you can. Detach from the outcome. Repeat until dead.
- When someone triggers you, respond with “When you…, I Feel…, because my mind tells myself a story that…
- Self imposed prisons include anger, resentment, envy, regret.
- You don’t control the world around you, only how you respond to it.
- Practice the Pause
- Stay Curious
- Actions reveal values
- I create all meaning in my life.
- The brain is a pattern matching machine. Pay attention the patterns you train it with.
- Make your bed in the morning so when you come home regardless of the quality of your day, you will see a success.
- Keep a pen and paper by your bed.
- Non-action is an action.
- Kindness is never a bad response.
- Understanding > being right.
- Creation > Consumption
- What if the opposite were true?
- Stories trump “facts”
- Play to your strengths.
- Separate the message from the messenger.
- Simplification > Optimization
- How many shit sandwiches are you willing to eat to get what you want?
- Get comfortable with probabilistic thinking.
- Do you want to be happy or right?
- Discard weasel words from your life.
- When triggered, ask one question: Is my reaction helpful?
- You will never regret taking the most favorable view of a situation.
- Having Judgement is essential, Being Judgmental is a choice.
- Have strong opinions, weakly held.
- Practice the Hudson Bay Start.
- Accept all bids for connection.
- Maybe what we want sucks.
- Your mileage may vary.
59 things I have learned in 59 years
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