This Week’s BIG Idea
There’s a line in the movie Fight Club that says: “You are not your job, you’re not how much money you have in the bank. You are not the car you drive. You’re not the contents of your wallet.” The way I see it, the image we present to the world isn’t the same as who we really are. So whatever we do, we mustn’t do things to impress others. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about my image and the way I show myself to others. How will others see me? Is that important if I’m being true to myself? Answering some of those questions is harder than ever because the media is trying to sell ideas all the time, but we have to do it nonetheless.
What I’m Working on
As I mentioned before, I use a bullet journal to organize my life. I’ve been a fan of this analog system for quite some time and while I watched dozens of videos on YouTube, the Bullet journal finally clicked for me when I read Ryder Carroll’s The Bullet Journal Method (those interested in the book can read my summary here). One of the best parts about this method is how you can tailor it to suit your needs, so I’m changing things all the time. The latest addition is going to be a quotes section where I transcribe the quotes that resonate with me as I read books and I can go over them on a regular basis.
What I’m Listening to
In one of his newsletters, Tim Ferriss recommended the performances of Martha Argerich, a famous Argentinian pianist. Although I dabbled in classical music when I was younger, I’m scared of it. Despite being one of life’s greatest pleasures, I’ve always seen this type of music as snobbish and elitist. If you asked me to describe Argerich’s music, I wouldn’t know where to start, I know nothing about Chopin, and I have no context to discuss this type of music. What I can tell you though is how classical music makes me feel. And isn’t that enough?
What I’m Reading
- 8 Rules of Love by Jay Shetty: I’m almost done with this book and I’m enjoying it a lot so far. I liked Jay Shetty’s previous book, Think Like a Monk where he taught you how to live a happier and more positive life using ancient wisdom. In 8 Rules of Love, Shetty provides a guide that can help you in every stage of your relationship and to do so, the author borrows concepts from Buddhism and modern science. His thinking is that since no one sits down and teaches us how to love, we take ideas from media and pop culture and we end up with a pastiche that doesn’t help us much. Instead, we need to define love and develop the skills we need to maintain it and nurture it regularly.
What I’m Watching
In this video, Ali explains what a healthy sleep routine looks like and the science behind it. Although you can watch the video for yourself, the main takeaways are:
- Have a regular schedule where you sleep around eight hours every day
- Have a morning routine where you exercise and you’re exposed to the sun
- Don’t have coffee for at least an hour after waking up
- Don’t have caffeine after 2 PM
- Go for a walk for ten minutes before sunset
- Avoid bright screens before bed
- Keep your bedroom cool so that you fall asleep more easily
Although Ali admits it’s difficult to follow this regimen every day, following most steps as consistently as possible does make a difference in your health.
This Week’s Quote
“A book is a screaming bargain. You pay $15-20, and you have something that might change your life; you have something that reminds you 20 years later, sitting on the shelf, where you were when you read it. I love buying books.”
Seth Godin
You can subscribe to my newsletter on Substack here or using the form below.