Not Trying

Trying too hard can actually make things worse.

We often get stuck in our own heads and mess things up.

When we overthink, we're more likely to fail.

We force things and they backfire.

We try to improve but cause new problems.

More we strive for something, more we seem to drift away from it.

Pushing against nature rarely works out well.

It's better to go with the flow than fight against it.

Taking actions without forcing things.

This doesn't mean being lazy or doing nothing.

Instead, working with nature, not against it.

We can do more by trying less.

Creativity works best when it's not forced.

New ideas often come from playing around.

Many big tech companies started in garages.

You can't force innovation to happen.

Some companies give workers time to experiment.

This free time can lead to cool new inventions.

Good bosses don't try to control everything.

They trust their workers to do a good job.

They only step in when it's really needed.

This approach lets people solve problems on their own.

Employees often do better work when given freedom.

Many big discoveries happen by accident.

Scientists need to be open to surprise findings.

For example, penicillin was found by chance.

Thinking too much can stress us out.

Stress makes it harder to do well.

Plants don't try to grow, they just do.

Rivers don't try to reach the sea, they simply flow.

Animals don't overthink their actions.

Ecosystems naturally find balance.

Nature works in harmony without effort.

Our world often tells us to work harder and try more.

Trying too hard can lead to feeling burned out and tired.

When I'm stressed or exhausted, I remind myself that I'm probably trying too hard.

It's surprising how often everything gets done just as well and just as quickly with half the effort.

Have faith in your own abilities.

Let things happen naturally when you can.

Not trying doesn't mean not doing anything.

It means working with the natural flow of things.

p.s maybe it is related to this
---
@ufblog

Makes You Think

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." — Carl Jung

"Learn as if you will live forever, live like you will die tomorrow." —Mahatma Gandhi

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." — William James

"Every next level of your life will demand a different you." — Leonardo DiCaprio

"The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think." — Horace Walpole

"Stay away from those people who try to disparage your ambitions. Small minds will always do that, but great minds will give you a feeling that you can become great too." —Mark Twain

"The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same." —Colin R. Davis

"Your worst sin is that you have destroyed and betrayed yourself for nothing." —Fyodor Dostoevsky

"Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others." —Fyodor Dostoevsky

"Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth." —Fyodor Dostoevsky

“The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.” -Twain

“I am not an optimist. I’m a very serious possibilist.” - Hans Rosling

“Everyone encourages you to grow up to the point where you can discount your own bad moods. Few encourage you to continue to the point where you can discount society’s bad moods.” – Paul Graham

"To go wrong in one's own way is better than to go right in someone else's." —Fyodor Dostoevsky

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." —Maya Angelou

“Show me a man who thinks he’s objective and I’ll show you a man who’s deceiving himself.” – Henry Luce

“The cure for imposter syndrome is to realize that all the other people are just convincing imposters, too.” – Alison Gopnik

“If you want these crazy ideas and these crazy stages, this crazy music, and this crazy way of thinking, there’s a chance it might come from a crazy person.” - Kanye West

“If something looks irrational – and has been so for a long time – odds are you have a wrong definition of rationality.” – Taleb

“No amount of sophistication is going to allay the fact that all your knowledge is about the past and all your decisions are about the future.” – Ian Wilson

“Humans don’t mind hardship, in fact they thrive on it; what they mind is not feeling necessary. Modern society has perfected the art of making people not feel necessary.” – Sebastian Junger

“Technology finds most of its uses after it has been invented, rather than being invented to meet a foreseen need.” – Jared Diamond

"The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions." — Oliver Wendell Holmes

“Comforts, once gained, become necessities. And if enough of those comforts become necessities, you eventually peel yourself away from any kind of common feeling with the rest of humanity.” – Sebastian Junger

“It is difficult to remove by logic an idea not placed there by logic in the first place.” – Gordon Livingston

"Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried but you’ve been planted." — Christine Caine

“Half the distinguishing qualities of the eminent are actually disadvantages.” – Paul Graham

“Everything feels unprecedented when you haven’t engaged with history.” – Kelly Hayes

“Survival is the ultimate performance measure.” – Vicki TenHaken

"There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self." —Ernest Hemingway

“It is far easier to figure out if something is fragile than to predict the occurrence of an event that may harm it.” – Nassim Taleb

"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail." —Ralph Waldo Emerson

---
@ufblog

Just like fish don't know they're in water.

We often follow cultural norms without realizing it.

Fish can't see water until they jump out of it.

Cultural bias is hard to see when you're in it.

What seems "normal" or "true" to a society may not be objectively right.

This is clear if we look at 1930s Germany, as we're look at the past... where obviously everything is already happened... and known the results

But it's harder to recognize in our own time.

The culture is shaping our beliefs about what to live for (e.g., nation, religion, self, job, university, IELTS? Or getting into Top Uni?).

We often struggle internally because we follow societal ideals without questioning them.

This can lead us to act against our own interests without realizing it.

What's trendy is NOT what you should do

---
@ufblog

Asking for Help.

I ask for your help not because I need it.

But to build connections.

Networking comes from shared achievements

To create it, you can invite others to do something with you.

So ask for help from those you want to be closer to.

I often ask my friends for help with simple things.

Not because I need it desperately.

I could do it myself.

But to keep our friendship fresh.

When I say fresh here, I mean:
Long silences can break relationships.

Ask someone to do you simple favors.

This can improve your relationship.

It makes them feel invested in you.

They may view you more positively.

It's tension between conflicting ideas.

Our minds try to resolve this tension.

We often justify our actions to reduce dissonance.

This can change our perceptions of others.

Helping others makes us like them more.

We will invest in people we've helped.

This creates a positive cycle.

It can turn indifference into friendship.

Rules for asking help:

Use clear, simple language.

Ask specific questions.

Show appreciation for help received.

Be open to feedback.

After all, you're cultivating network.

---
@ufblog

Ignore News (Read books)

Ignore everything new.

Let time filter things.

Value what has endured.

Ignore marketing and ads.

They don't push what matters.

Focus on friendships, nature, family, learning, community.

The best things aren't things.

Just ignore news.

Wait for good books to be published on important topics.

When people ask you about current news, proudly have no opinion.

Admit you’ve given it no thought at all — and don’t plan to — because it’s not important.

Indulging is common.

Refraining is rare.

News is noisy.

It creates false urgency.

It manipulates you, giving you problems that isn't even existed.

Important things are quiet.

They don't have to be showed off.

Modern life is shallow.

Live in the past.

Watch great old movies.

Read classics.

Listen to legends.

These things last.

Time filters well.

Adopt technology late.

Wait until it's cheaper and better.

Early adopters face problems.

Move at wisdom's pace.

Don't buy solutions without problems.

Buy old, used items.

They're well-crafted.

They'll outlive you.

Study why old things exist.

People in the past weren't ignorant.

Understand before changing.
Study history and traditions.

Visit unchanged places.

Cultures need traditions to stay sane.

Move to a small, unchanged town.

Spend sometime in nature.

Find happiness outdoors.

Remember you don't need modern things.

New things will soon be gone.

Learn timeless skills.

Speaking, writing, gardening, accounting, persuasion, survival.

These skills don't change.

Master fundamentals, not new tricks.

Learn timeless aspects of your craft.

This knowledge lasts.

Study the oldest things in your field.

They're likely to endure.
---
@ufblog

Choice is everything.

We make decisions constantly.

Big and small.

These shape our lives.

Good choices lead to good outcomes.

But how do we make good choices?

1. Trust your gut.

Your instincts are ancient.

They've been evolving for billions of years.

Logic is newer and less reliable.

Emotions hold accumulated wisdom.

Listen to them.

2. Don't seek perfection.

"Good enough" is often best.

Too many options cause stress.

Satisfice, don't maximize.

You'll be happier.

3. Set limits for yourself.

Too much choice is overwhelming.

Rules can be freeing.

They reduce decision fatigue.

Religion offers this benefit.

4. Create your own rules.

Prioritize importance over urgency.

Emails feel urgent.

Learning new skills is important.

Focus on what matters long-term.

5. Ignore the noise.

Consider opportunity costs.

Time and attention are limited.

Choosing one thing means not choosing others.

Be aware of what you're giving up.

Make decisions quickly when possible.

For reversible choices, act fast.

Save mental energy for big decisions.

6. Establish routines.

Routines free up mental space.

Eat the same breakfast.

Vary only where it matters.

7. Entropy always increases.

Apply this to decision-making.

Disorder grows unless you actively prevent it.

Make choices that reduce chaos.

8. Think in probabilities.

Nothing is certain.

Consider multiple possible outcomes.

Prepare for different scenarios.

Use expected value calculations.

Biology teaches adaptation.

Be flexible in your decisions.

Adjust as circumstances change.

Don't stick rigidly to plans.

Use algorithms like in the coding

Create decision trees.

Follow if-then logic.

Automate repetitive choices.

9. Learn from history.

Study past decisions and their outcomes.

Look for patterns.

Avoid repeating others' mistakes.

Don't assume relationships between events.

Correlation isn't causation in statistics.

Gather more data before deciding.

Understand sunk costs.

Past investments shouldn't dictate future choices.

Be willing to cut losses.

1. Be aware of your mental blindspots.

Psychology shows we're prone to biases.

Seek outside perspectives.

Challenge your assumptions.

10. Decisions don't happen in isolation.

Consider others' choices.

Think about how others will react.

Plan several moves ahead.

Question everything.

11. Examine your values.

Make choices aligned with your principles.

Be true to yourself.

Literature teaches us about human nature.

Learn from characters' choices.

Understand different viewpoints.

Develop empathy to make better decisions.

12. Timing is crucial in decision-making.

Sometimes waiting is wise.

Other times, seize the moment.

13. Prevention is key.

Make choices that prevent future problems.

Invest in your health.

Small decisions compound over time.

14. Practice makes perfect.

Practice decision-making like any skill.

Review and learn from past choices.

Improve over time.

Remember, you can't control everything.

Some outcomes are random.

Focus on the process, not just results.

Make the best choice you can.

Then move forward without regret.

---
@ufblog

Consistency is Everything

Consistency matters a lot.

Some people focus on change.

They lack focus.

This lack of focus holds them back.

It keeps them from success.

So how to be consistent?

Consistency comes before intensity.

Start with small steps.

Become someone who shows up daily.

Build a new identity.

Then increase your intensity.

I'm doing 100 pushups every single day.

I've been doing this for around 30 days.

This is building a new identity.

I'm becoming someone who exercises daily.

Most people need consistency more than intensity.

Intensity examples:

- Run a marathon

- Write a book in 30 days

- Attend a silent meditation retreat

Consistency examples:

- Don't miss a workout for 2 years

- Write every week

- Practice daily silence

Intensity makes good stories.

Consistency creates real progress.

I'm learning Russian on Duolingo.

I've been doing this for the last 175 days.

Duolingo may not be the best teacher.

But it changes your identity.

You go from someone thinking about learning.

To someone who is actually learning.

Many good outcomes in life are lagging measures.

They result from consistent habits.

Your bank account reflects your financial habits.

Your fitness mirrors your exercise habits.

Focus on small, consistent actions every day.

Make gradual progress towards your goals.

The quality of daily actions matters most.

It's more important than occasional big efforts.

In theory, consistency means being disciplined.

It means being determined.

It means being unwavering.

In practice, consistency is about adapting.

Don't have much time?

Scale down your task.

Low on energy?

Do an easier version.

Find different ways to show up each day.

Let your habits change shape.

Meet the demands of each day.

Adaptability leads to consistency.

Be ready to value what comes your way.

But there's a danger in focusing too much on consistency.

This danger is the all-or-nothing mindset.

Don't obsess over being perfectly consistent.

It's easy to fall into this trap.

Don't think you've failed if you're not perfect.

Being consistent is not the same as being perfect.

Missing a single day doesn't hurt long-term success.

It's about average speed, not maximum speed.

Daily failures are like red lights on a road trip.

You'll hit some stops and delays.

But a good average speed gets you to your destination.

Consider a fat loss coach's approach.

He doesn't track daily calories.

He looks at the weekly calorie total.

He makes adjustments based on that.

This strategy is different from typical approaches.

It doesn't focus on individual meals.

It doesn't worry about occasional mistakes.

It maintains the right "average speed" over time.

View your progress over a longer timeline.

Don't focus on a single day or event.

Mistakes will happen.

Give yourself permission to make them.

To maintain sanity, reduce stress, and succeed long-term:

Plan for failure

Willpower fades.

People fail to remain consistent

Because they don't have a plan for failure

Planning to fail doesn't mean expecting to fail.

It means knowing what to do when things go wrong.

It means knowing how to get back on track.

If you focus on being perfect, you're in a trap.

It's an all-or-nothing mindset.

---
@ufblog

Today's innovations are tomorrow's baseline.

In medieval Europe, division was a rare skill.

Now, pre-teens solve complex math.

We start from a higher knowledge base.

Coding is becoming a standard subject.

It's like learning a new language.

Young people master it easily.

Physical limits keep being broken.

The four-minute mile was once impossible.

Now, many college kids do it regularly.

Progress is like compound interest.

Small improvements add up over time.

Each generation builds on the last.

Innovation is a team sport.

We stand on the shoulders of giants.

Their discoveries become our starting point.

Gymnastics has evolved dramatically.

What was once impossible is now routine.

The human body's potential keeps expanding.

Pessimism often overlooks progress.

We may not see new Bill Gates or Henry Fords.

But we use their work as a foundation.

Technology advances exponentially.

AI and quantum computing push boundaries.

They redefine what's possible.

Climate change demands new solutions.

Green energy and sustainability evolve.

Today's experiments become tomorrow's norms.

Medical breakthroughs save lives.

Gene editing and personalized medicine emerge.

They build on centuries of research.

Space exploration reaches new frontiers.

Private companies join government efforts.

Mars colonization becomes a real goal.

The future holds unknown potential.

We start with all of history's knowledge.

Our baseline for achievement keeps rising.

---
@ufblog

We Fear Success.

Fear of failure is common.

But success can be scarier.

It brings change.

Change is uncomfortable.

Success means new responsibilities.

It can alter relationships.

Friendship can end.

Some people sabotage themselves.

They do this unconsciously.

It's a psychological defense mechanism.

In physics, objects resist change.

This is called inertia.

Humans have emotional inertia.

We cling to the familiar.

Even if it's not good for us.

Successful people face criticism.

They become targets.

Tall poppies get cut down.

This is a social phenomenon.

It's seen in many cultures.

Success requires hard work.

Maintaining success is challenging.

It's easier to dream than to do.

Organisms strive for homeostasis, a state of internal balance.

Success disrupts our equilibrium.

It pushes us out of our comfort zone.

Some people fear outshining others.

They worry about making others feel bad.

This is called the "impostor syndrome".

Success means facing our potential.

It shows what we're capable of.

This can be overwhelming.

Success in one area may mean sacrifice in another.

We fear these trade-offs.

Success brings attention.

Some people dislike spotlight.

They prefer anonymity.

In nature, standing out can be dangerous.

Predators notice the unusual.

Our brains are wired for survival.

Success feels risky to our primitive minds.

We often self-sabotage.

It's a way to stay "safe".

But growth requires discomfort.

Doing what you fear leads to progress.

Success is a journey, not a destination.

It requires continuous effort.

Facing our fear of success is crucial.

It's the key to reaching our potential.

We must challenge our limiting beliefs.

Only then can we truly thrive.

---
@ufblog