On Life’s Problems
“I split problems into two groups: muddy puddles and leaky ceilings.
Some problems are like muddy puddles. The way to clear a muddy puddle is to leave it alone. The more you mess with it, the muddier it becomes. Many of the problems I dream up when I’m overthinking or worrying or ruminating fall into this category. Is life really falling apart or am I just in a sour mood? Is this as hard as I’m making it or do I just need to go workout? Drink some water. Go for a walk. Get some sleep. Go do something else and give the puddle time to turn clear.
Other problems are like a leaky ceiling. Ignore a small leak and it will always widen. Relationship tension that goes unaddressed. Overspending that becomes a habit. One missed workout drifting into months of inactivity. Some problems multiply when left unattended. You need to intervene now.
Are you dealing with a leak or a puddle?”
James Clear
Reflections on Life
Life is not a dress rehearsal—this is probably it. Make it count. Time is extremely limited and goes by fast. Do what makes you happy and fulfilled—few people get remembered hundreds of years after they die anyway. Don’t do stuff that doesn’t make you happy (this happens most often when other people want you to do something). Don’t spend time trying to maintain relationships with people you don’t like, and cut negative people out of your life. Negativity is really bad. Don’t let yourself make excuses for not doing the things you want to do.
Sam Altman
Productivity
It doesn’t matter how fast you move if it’s in a worthless direction. Picking the right thing to work on is the most important element of productivity and usually almost ignored. So think about it more! Independent thought is hard but it’s something you can get better at with practice.
Sam Altman
On Journaling
Paper has more patience than people
Anne Frank
On Health
The More Muscle We Have, The More Calories We Burn
Ade Rai
Anger
Anger is like an oven; heat without light.
James Clear
Forgiveness is like the moon; light without heat.
Consistency
Hard times create strong men
G. Michael Hopf
Strong men create good times
Good times create weak men
Weak men create hard times
Not everything blooms in spring. Your season might be autumn.
Keep going.
James Clear
On Easy Life
Strangely, life gets harder when you try to make it easy.
- Exercising might be hard, but never moving makes life harder.
- Mastering your craft is hard, but having no skills is harder.
- Uncomfortable conversations are hard, but avoiding every conflict is harder.
Easy has a cost.
James Clear