Advice About Being

And this being fed, it’s worse than being watched. With the world always filling you, no one has to worry about what’s in your mind. With everyone’s imagination atrophied, no one will ever be a threat to the world.”

Tim Ferriss • 5-Bullet Friday — Richard Feynman, Music for Flow, AI Eye-Poppers, the Most Brutal Great American Novel, and a Quote to Wake You Up

What we fill our lives with is who we are. I’ve spent so long removing and thought so little about what I add.

“A prototype is worth a thousand meetings” (building a simple way to ‘taste test’ is often faster AND better than trying to figure things out in our heads)

Shaan Puri • 5 Tweet Tuesday - July 9, 2024

I need to remember this more when I’m terrified of the imagined scenarios in my head

I do like the rush of rushing. And to an extent, I am quite good at rushing—at doing things in a high-intensity, high-pressure way. But my sense is that I am much better off when I enjoy the pause, slow down, be where I am, and build strength patiently. I’m better off when I remember to take my time, to realize that the journey is long and it shoul... See more

slow down

What does it take to build something so that’s it’s really easy to make comfortable little modifications in a way that once you’ve made them, they feel integral with the nature and structure of what is already there?

Chris Alexander

We would all do well to live a little more in tune with our surroundings. That or change our surroundings.

“A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament. Its beauty comes from the fact that the author is what he is. It has nothing to do with the fact that other people want what they want. Indeed, the moment that an artist takes notice of what other people want, and tries to supply the demand, he ceases to be an artist, and becomes a dull

Tim Ferriss • 5-Bullet Friday — Chimp Discoveries, Lucid-Dream Tech, Sam Harris and Learning to Think, and More

I am not an artist, I’m learning. I change with the whims of people’s responses. Except I guess when I work on my little side project. So maybe it’s time to lean more into that.

Much like a good movie, life eventually forces the protagonist (whether it’s you or, say, Tom Cruise) to choose between two irreconcilable goods : a comfortable living, or a clean conscience ( The Firm ); the love of your life, or the job of your dreams ( Jerry Maguire ). And so on. The choices we make reveal who we are.

International Intrigue • 🌍 Tantalising

Surprising insight from this newsletter. Got me thinking about the choices I’ve made in the past.

“Sometimes,” Dalinar said, “the prize is not worth the costs. The means by which we achieve victory are as important as the victory itself.”

Brandon Sanderson • The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, Book 1)

“Old George Orwell got it backward. Big Brother isn’t watching. He’s singing and dancing. He’s pulling rabbits out of a hat. Big Brother’s busy holding your attention every moment you’re awake. He’s making sure you’re always distracted.