Quotes
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." — Mahatma Gandhi.
"The best way to predict the future is to invent it." — Alan Kay.
"There is nothing permanent except change." — Heraclitus.
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." — Theodore Roosevelt.
"Not all those who wander are lost." — J.R.R. Tolkien.
“Spend your hours in life wisely.” — Teronie J. Donaldson (Yep, that’s me cool, right?)
Notes/Observation
Watch your habits.
How we spend our days in our lives is a profound truth about the nature of human existence. The sum of our daily activities and choices ultimately shapes the trajectory of our lives.
Our daily habits, decisions, and routines contribute to the larger dynamic of our life story.
Articles
Watched
Book of the Week
"You Are Not So Smart" by David McRaney is a compelling exploration of how our brains are wired to deceive us. The book delves into self-delusion and how it permeates every aspect of our lives, from our decisions to the memories we cherish.
Through a series of engaging and often humorous anecdotes, McRaney demonstrates how our perceptions of ourselves and the world around us are far from accurate. He highlights the various cognitive biases, heuristics, and fallacies that cloud our judgment, showing that our sense of self-mastery and rationality is often illusory.
Two key takeaways from the book are:
1- We are not as rational as we think: McRaney sheds light on how a host of cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias, the Dunning-Kruger effect, and the illusion of control, plagues our thinking. These biases lead us to overestimate our knowledge, understanding, and control over events, making us prone to errors in judgment and decision-making.
2- Awareness is the first step to improvement: Despite the somewhat bleak picture of human rationality that McRaney paints, a central theme of the book is that recognizing and understanding these biases and fallacies can help us navigate them better. By becoming more aware of our cognitive limitations, we can take steps to mitigate their impact on our decisions and beliefs, leading to better outcomes in various aspects of life.
"You Are Not So Smart" is not just an eye-opening read about the flaws in human cognition; it's also a guide on how to confront and overcome these inherent biases. Through introspection and understanding, McRaney suggests we can lead more informed, rational lives.
Strategy
Be bold in every situation, especially when you lack the experience. Sometimes whats’s needed is action.
Question
What would your life look like right now if you acted boldly toward your goals?