When the impulse to purchase or sink into emotional distraction arise, attempt to pause.
The hedonic treadmill of pursuing pleasure means you must always be running faster, because pleasure and desire always requires more. Turning from pleasure, is there a more enduring (less transitory and consuming) goal you may pursue?
Tag: values
- Theme: Self
Distracted from enduring values by pleasure
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1–2 minutes - Theme: Self
Honor is not character
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1–2 minutesHonor and glory are externally gifted. Contextual bestowed tokens, that can be stripped as quickly as given.
Character and virtue are internal.
The complication is not to confuse external honor (validation) for personal worth, to not conflate approval with character.
- Theme: Self
Definitions make distinctions
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1–2 minutesTo confuse skills with career is common. To confuse nationalism and patriotism is common. To confuse passion with love is common. To confuse value and worth is common.
As Timothy Snyder says: be kind to our language. Be precise. Avoid clichés.
When our medium of communication becomes casually abused and twisted we can feel the trap, but do not have the concept (accessibly contained in language) to push back.
- Theme: Growth
The sin of neutrality
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1–2 minutesTo remain neutral creates a vacuum.
We often stay neutral out of respect for individual sovereignty (freedom of choice or preference). Yet, without articulating an alternative, substantive vision our friends/family are left to the predation of marketed mantras that divide: "to each their own." - Theme: Growth
The point is never the point
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1–2 minutesWhen people say "The point is…" it isn’t.
To declare primacy, to center one idea, is to elevate and exalt one perspective, usually the speakers.
Now the conversation is social politics: the point is to support the person by supporting the idea. - Theme: Growth
Winging it
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1–2 minutesYou can wing it and claim success, because you forgave yourself in advance.
This is how we start most things, but it is not your best: you prioritize "good enough" in the moment over considered preparation. - Theme: Systems
Thoroughly understand the simple
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1–2 minutesUnderstanding a simple concept thoroughly is more beneficial than knowing complicated systems.
This concept seems simple, but isn’t. Likely you are already bored.
Example: A simple concept like "leverage" underpins all societies and economics. How about "reciprocity"? What is the difference between "price" and "value"?
- Theme: Growth
You create your state
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1–2 minutesThings affect you because you decide to care: you made it about you. Most of your cares are small and serve no one, not even yourself.
Equally, you can let nothing affect you and become a stone. How boring.
Be aware, be particular.
- Theme: Growth
Productivity can displace the goal
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1–2 minutesProductivity is necessary, but don’t forget why you are being productive.
Why are you trying so hard? To live well? You can do that right now.
Don’t let the "to do" block you from "being" and "becoming."