Books Read
You can follow me on Goodreads to see the books I read and want to read.
Daylio Mood
My average mood in 2022 was still 3.7 which is consistent with my previous research. I became a reader this year which is likely a good thing in the long term.
Lessons Learned
- The only constant is impermanence. Trying to hold on to preconceived notions is a recipe for disaster. Prepare for and make peace with the worst outcome and life becomes a bonus. Nothing is inherently good or bad. We superimpose these concepts on the perception of valence (pleasant versus unpleasant). Psychological truths don’t exist somewhere in the ether. You have the power, and responsibility, to tweak your concepts (mental models) in a way that is useful to you, the people close to you, and the world.
- We are limited beings trying desperately to live infinite lives. There’s not enough room in the jar to fit all the big rocks. We need to constantly and radically choose which big rocks we want to include today, this week, this month, this season, this year, the next 5 years, etc… Procrastination is inevitable. We have to accept that fact and consciously choose to cut the branches of the multiverse tree. Wisdom is the ability to zoom out and see how the tree unfolds when making a decision.
- We are not robots. Logical arguments are rarely the best way to get your point across. Listening and asking questions are often more effective. Stay away from combative arguments. Let people “win” and you’ll always be a winner. Transcend the nonsense.
- Most interpersonal conflicts are not about a specific thing. Instead, they are about how we make each other feel when negotiating a certain outcome. It’s useless to try to “solve a problem” when we are in fight or flight mode. Making each other feel safe and secure is the only sustainable and growth-oriented way forward.
- Most problems are not as big as you paint them to be. Let the mud settle. Sleep on it. Don’t whip out your sword unless you need to. Embody non-action.
- Sleep is probably the most effective lever to pull on for health. Eat food and integrate movement and people into your life. The basics are simple and boring. The nitty gritty is shiny and exciting. Don’t fool yourself. Automate the foundation of your flourishing.
- Financial literacy explains 30-40% of wealth discrepancies independent of the other big factors. Reading a couple of books and taking action on them could save you millions. Get over your personal story with money. The long-term goal is to forget about money.
- The dopamine-driven life is a finite game. Play infinite games instead. You want a mixture of dopamine and H&Ns in your daily life. The integration of the two is where self-actualization and self-transcendence intertwine.
- Never buy shoes that don’t fit. Set up your life in a way that you do not need to compromise too often on your principles. Hell yes or no.
- A decision can be good even though the outcome didn’t turn out the way we wanted. Focus more on the thinking and less on the outcomes. The infinite game will reward you. Randomness and variance are powerful forces that we are best served to bow to. Don’t attempt to tame them with superstitions, not even littlestitions. When faced with a series of unfavorable outcomes, ask yourself: Am I making good decisions? If yes, then trust the process. If not, then adapt your strategy. Learn how to make good bets. Don’t ride the luck roller coaster. Be like the farmer; equanimous, open to experience, constantly revising his plans and accepting life as it is.
- Let go of external goals and metrics. Trust the process. Keep showing up. Pay yourself first with your money but also your time. Put in the work in the morning when the world is sleeping. Work patiently but persistently.
Goals for 2023
- Get hip surgery
- Build MDM4U stats course.
- Build my teacher Google site with main courses and resources.
- Not drink alcohol for all of 2023.
- Take Richard McElreath’s Statistical Rethinking course this summer.
- Attend Desmos’ Fellowship conference (if accepted).
Read This Next
- Life Score: A Subjectively Objective Way to Evaluate your Life
- What I Learned from Tracking my Mood for 1000 days
- My 10-day Vipassana Silent Retreat Experience
- Life is a Jar
- Three Questions for Success
- Cal Newport Was Wrong
- Atomic Habits Book Review
- The Do-Nothing Morning Routine Experiment
- Automate Your Finances