This is going to be short. I just need to get the ball rolling on these to rebuild the habit. I’m amazed how easy it is to fall off track. I feel like one of the barriers is not taking notes on my reading of late and as such I don’t have as much to contemplate. Using the holidays would be an excuse.
Source: 33 Laws of War – Robert Greene
Lesson: Even if you’re rich act like you’re poor
I’m struggling to determine if this is just another way of stating that we should remain humble. I don’t think so because the context was more around keeping yourself mentally tough. Don’t become reliant on material comforts. There can be a sense of dependency on things that provide little utility in our own lives. A hot shower, gourmet meals, sleeping in. All of these things may feel nice, but deprivation may lead to greater joy and appreciation over time.
Lesson 2: Our largest expenditures are our most frequent small ones
This one hit home as I feel like the majority of my spending is on smaller ticket items. Work shoes, snacks, and other purchases that bring little long term joy. Dan John more frequently has talked on the importance of making purchases for experiences and they end up leading to more joy over time. The solution to this problem may just being better about tracking expenses and developing habits to limit spending. It’s amazing how quickly small purchases can become an addiction. This likely comes from having the stimulus for the purchase so consistently on daily basis, the anticipation of getting the item, and then this dopamine hit once we get it. It doesn’t have to be tobacco, it could be a sparkling water, a smoothie or whatever. They all can be considered compulsive behavior that ultimately bring little joy. I think starting to become mindful of these purchases is important. This may allow us to better use our money for what we want.
Source: James Clear Newsletter
Lesson: Improvements are only temporary until they become part of who you are. The goal is not to read a book, it’s to become a reader. This year, focus on the identity you want to build.
My wife often comments about how people continue to define themselves by a degree they got in the past or a sport they played in the past. Maybe they played soccer in college and for the rest of their lives they say they’re an athlete or a soccer player when they haven’t played in 20 years. I think this thought is different than the lesson, but interesting to think about in this context. How much labels influence our self-identity. How it is important to act like the ideal person in the label we are trying to become. Often, I struggle with this in my identity as a Christian. I make a statement that I am one, but it’s in label alone. I don’t feel like I act like him. I focus on building net worth, rarely volunteer and criticize other people. I think the issue with both examples is the hypocrisy. Is the solution for me to act more in line with my values, is it to afford more grace to those who are not acting in line with their own, or both?
Seeking Progress 