Hello everyone,
I warmly welcome you to my newsletter. I know I’m repeating myself, but I’m truly delighted that each and every one of you is reading these words. Therefore, I kindly ask for your feedback and encourage you to start discussions on the points raised in the newsletter using the comment function.
As always, let’s begin with the 2 tasks, 4 quotes, and 7 insights.
2 Tasks
Themes like “Self-Optimization,” “Personal Growth,” “Better Self,” etc., are important, but they often focus heavily on oneself, even though your ultimate goal may be to improve yourself to help the people around you whom you love. And I believe the essence lies in not neglecting the time with your family and friends, despite all your efforts to progress in life, such as providing a better life for yourself and your family. The path of “self-optimization” can quickly become lonely as you strive to use your time productively and efficiently, possibly viewing some things as a waste of time and money. While it’s important to let go of things in life that don’t propel you forward, it should never include time and experiences with your family and friends. Therefore, this week, I have the following 2 tasks for you:
- The first task is quite simple: spend some quality time with your friends and family. Initiate it if necessary and don’t set any limits regarding when, where, or for how long.
- You can combine the second task with the first one. Write down the most important people in your life on a sheet of paper and add things you’re grateful for about each person. These could be things like favors, simple ideas, conversations, or shared outings. To give some concrete examples: it could be something like being introduced to a sports club by someone, where you’re now a loyal and active member, introducing you to a new hobby; or perhaps forwarding a job posting that led you to your dream job; or even providing encouragement for an idea you then implemented. It’s important to reflect on these things, jot them down, and express gratitude to those individuals. By doing so, you’ll be able to show much more gratitude in general for the people around you and perhaps even resolve some conflicts.
4 Quotes
I started this year with the following books: “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius and “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. I highly recommend both books, and I will include my favorite quotes from these two books in upcoming newsletters:
- “Breakthrough moments are often the result of many previous actions.” (p. 20, Atomic Habits)
- “If you want better results, then forget about setting goals. Focus on your system instead.” (p. 24, Atomic Habits)
- “The universe is change; life is judgment.” (Meditations, Book Four 2, p. 35)
- “No, you don’t have thousands of years to live. Urgency is on you. While you live, while you can, become good.” (Meditations, Book Four 2, p. 38)
7 Insights
- See excitement as something positive, as it makes you feel every facet of your body. Embrace it, and you’ll have a positive experience. (From life)
- Reconsider every commitment and its potential consequences. Does something need to be re-evaluated? (From life)
- Commit to an activity in advance, such as studying or exercising, instead of relying on willpower. (From Atomic Habits)
- Put your phone away, preferably out of the room, when you want to concentrate, as even its presence can trigger distractions. (From Atomic Habits)
- Try to work ultra-focused for at least two 90-minute sessions without any distractions. (From Deep Work) And actively schedule these 90 minutes into your daily routine. (Andrew Huberman)
- Let things you can’t change come to you and don’t dwell on them too much. (I know, easier said than done) (From life)
- Life is short – live in harmony with nature. (Meditations)
It was once again therapeutic to express thoughts and jot them down here. I hope someday there will be people who read these lines and take something away for themselves. If not, that’s okay too. With that, I bid farewell for now. Until next time!