Posts

The fear of commitment

Pete Davis on why we love people who commit but don't commit: “Why do we love committers but act like browsers? I think it’s because of three fears.  First, we have a fear of regret: we worry that if we commit to something, we will later regret having not committed to something else.  Second, we have a fear of association: we think that if we commit to something, we will be vulnerable to the chaos that that commitment brings to our identity, our reputation, and our sense of control.  Third, we have a fear of missing out: we feel that if we commit to something, the responsibilities that come with it will prevent us from being everything, everywhere, to everyone.  B ecause of these fears, the tension sticks around. We act like browsers, we love committers, and we’re too scared to make the jump—so we’re stuck.” Found via Shane Parrish's newsletter, Brain Food .

Don't overcomplicate things.

“Complexity is the enemy of execution.” - Tony Robbins

Take care of your people

"If people are drowning -- or even if they feel like they're about to drown -- they're unlikely to do a good job working on your project." From Seth Godin's, The Song of Significance.

Action minus inspiration

" The most valuable skill isn't inspiration but the ability to work without it." Shane Parrish Farnam Street

There is always enough

"When you dance on the edge of infinity, there is always enough…Because you aren’t taking opportunity from anyone else, you’re creating it." Seth Godin, The Song of Significance

Identity

"The more an idea is tied to your identity, the more you will ignore evidence it is false. People seem to have no trouble finding reasons to ignore the merits of ideas they dislike. To continue to grow and learn, you must be willing to update, expand, and edit your identity. In many ways, growth is unlearning."  ~ James Clear

Choosing how to spend your time

  Stephen Covey with an example of how slow in the moment is fast in the end: “It’s true that becoming an empathic listener takes time, but it doesn’t take any-where near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you’re already miles down the road, to redo, and to live with unexpressed and unsolved problems.” Source: Farnam Street: Brain Food

The truth

  “We tell ourselves we don't speak the truth because we don't want to hurt others, but it's far more likely that we don't want to bear the consequences of our choices. We tell a white lie to a friend that we're "busy" the night they ask us to do something when we don't feel like going. We don't tell our partner we're mentally and emotionally checked out of our marriage, not because it will hurt them, but because of the consequences of this choice. We don't flag the problem at work because we'll be tasked with the solution. The stories we tell aren't protecting others. They're protecting ourselves. ” -Shane Parrish

Be the master

  “Master your circumstances rather than be ruled by them.” -Shane Parrish

Reality

 "Instead of trying to fix what is unresolved in your mind, try saying, 'In this moment of life, reality is like this.' Acceptance lets the heart speak." -Cory Muscara

Polish

 "If I'm irritated by every rub, how will I ever be polished?" -Rumi

Reciprocity

  "Reciprocity underlies everything from basic human kindness to the most complex trade systems. At its core, reciprocity is the simple idea of treating others as they treat us—giving what we get. From this simple principle grows a vast web of social interactions and expectations that shapes nearly every aspect of our lives. Many people seem to expect the world to hand them things without effort. This is a poor strategy because it doesn’t align with the human behavior you can observe around you every day. Reciprocation teaches us that if you give people cynicism and curtness or nothing at all, you are likely to receive the same. But if you give people an opportunity and the benefit of the doubt, you will often be on the receiving end of the same behavior. Become what you want to see in the world, and the world will return it to you. If you want an amazing relationship with your partner, be an amazing partner. If you want people to be thoughtful and kind to you, be thoughtful and k...

Go lightly

"It's dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you're feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days, such a humorless little prig. Lightly, lightly – it's the best advice ever given me... So throw away your baggage and go forward. There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet, trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair. That’s why you must walk so lightly." Source:  Aldous Huxley,   Island   

The Matrix

How to see the matrix Seeing the matrix is breaking free from societal conditioning and limiting beliefs so you can reach your potential. Name an unwanted emotion in your life List the ways that you try to avoid it Notice that every way you try to avoid it, you actually create it SOURCE:  Joe Hudson, Performance Coach. https://x.com/FU_joehudson

Never complain

"Never explain. Never complain."  ~   Benjamin Disraeli

Never explain.

"Never explain. Your friends do not need it, and your enemies will not believe you anyway."  ~Elbert Hubbard

Brilliant minds

"The test of a first-rate intellect is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in your head at the same time, and still retain the ability to function." ~F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Crack-Up

We should all strive for this

  Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives. Such striving may seem admirable, but it is the way of foolishness. Help them instead to find the wonder and the marvel of an ordinary life. Show them the joy of tasting tomatoes, apples and pears. Show them how to cry when pets and people die. Show them the infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand. And make the ordinary come alive for them. The extraordinary will take care of itself. Source:  The Parent's Tao Te Ching

Change

 "Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights."  – Pauline R. Kezer

Change

"To fear change is to fear being challenged. To fear being challenged is to fear growth and new possibilities."  - Ty Howard