How to read more and read better. This is going one of the top goals in our lives; most people want to read more or wish they read more, we want to obtain more knowledge. We think that reading will better ourselves, help us in some way. And it can, but I also say if you hate reading, it's a slog, super hard like pulling teeth, then you might be reading the wrong things. So how can we read more and better?

If you ever sacrifice the internal for the external, you are going to make yourself miserable. We think that external things will bring us happiness. And it's not our fault; we have all been lied to and tricked into thinking this way. Through capitalism, advertising, and commerce, these things make our world work. Without a social system, we dive into chaos. The only thing is, if we ever figure out that we don't need stuff to be happy, then the whole system collapses.

It's interesting how we think that if a certain number of people like our work, we will be happy. We think that if I wear these clothes and put on this perfume, I will attract the perfect person into our lives. We think that if I have this, then this will happen in my life. But the truth is that advertisements are empty promises. If we look closely at them, they don't promise anything; they are a future endeavor that doesn't exist.

We live in a day where we have an endless amount of choices. So many, in fact, that it can become overwhelming and debilitating to a point. Just this idea for the younger generation to pick a career path is beyond overwhelming compared to millennials. When we were kids, you could choose a doctor, lawyer, electrician, etc. In today's job market, you can be all those things and more—a race car Uber driver, a copywriter that only reviews baby products, to a person that films themselves sleeping. It's stupid and great and also a paradox because the more choices we have, the more we feel like we made the wrong choice when there are so many options.

This paradox of choice is this idea that the more choices you have, the better, right?

First, we have to come to the realization that life is unfair; people are dealt different cards, and some are born with more resources at their disposal from the get-go. This includes different genetics, like physical health and mental brain structures, financial, or even location.

Optimistic nihilism is the realisation that there is a lack of meaning in the world and universe. This is liberating because there is no greater meaning in life, no greater purpose; there is no cosmic plan for the life's path that you must take. So, you cannot go wrong; there isn't a certain path you must follow or a set of beliefs you must attain. We are the ones who create our own path. We get to choose how to live our own lives.

And since there is no meaning to life and the universe, you must consider yourself very lucky in this world. Because your life is not fated to be a certain way.

The 4-hour work week asks the question 'what would this look like if it was easy'? - Tim Ferriss

I used to think about this question and be like, my life would be amazing; I could focus on what matters, spend more time doing this and that. In reality, that works for some—this idea of efficiency, streamlining your work and/or life, taking away the clutter and mundanity of it all, and only doing the real work, the important work, the work we love. This is true, so too. But I also remember the story about a monk and a bucket of water. I can't remember where I heard the story, but here is my interpretation of it.

We can only interpret our problems from our own perspective. Give a person a hammer, and then everything starts to look like a nail.

The four noble truths: suffering, the curse of suffering, the end of suffering, the path. Simply put, pain, the origin of pain, healing, and living ethically. Life is good, and it brings along with it learnings that can be painful. How we choose to interpret those moments in our lives and the stories we tell ourselves determine the amount of suffering we choose to inflict on ourselves.

Buddha said, 'Be wary of the second arrow.' The first arrow represents the pain, the actual physical pain, and the second arrow represents what you call suffering—the story we make up, the 'why.'

This is a simple but painful fix that some of you will gladly abide by, and others will fight against. Which reaction you choose is up to you.

When we look at someone's work or video and say, 'I wish,' 'I desire,' 'I could be like that,' or 'I should do that,' we are expressing envy. Envy to be like them or to replicate them. This can be a good thing if you are starting out and want to try a bunch of different styles, methods, and see which one works for you. At the other end, if you are doing this to be like them, to replicate their success, then that is envy, and you are playing a losing game. Because you are now in their shadow, and you will never get in front by following.

I've been journaling and writing in a notebook for over a decade, and I can confidently say it hasn't changed my life one bit.

But it has made my life easier. What I'm saying is that journaling and taking notes has not made me a millionaire, it hasn't gotten me a raise at work, or even helped with my habits. But it has done one thing that I am grateful for.

Journaling has helped with my mental health.

We learn more when we stop talking and listen. We have two ears and one mouth; we should listen twice as much as we speak. I'm finding this to be so true. When I'm quiet, the person talking is either discussing something I can learn, or they are just filling a void, and I'm learning about their insecurities. But there is so much more to learn when we are quiet.

"We have two ears and one mouth; therefore, we should listen twice as much as we speak." - Zeno

In recent times, a noticeable shift has occurred as more individuals embrace tangible experiences such as reading physical books, perusing journals, and engaging with traditional media.

It takes courage to ask why, to stand in front of authority and question them, make them answer with logic and reason. To force them to answer without going back to the default status quo, answer because. I am a true believer that there are no stupid questions. That we ask questions for a reason, to understand, to obtain knowledge.

Why is it that when we have the tools in front of us to do the work, we still look for alternatives? Like there is a better way of doing it or a better vehicle or more efficient method?

I keep wanting to write more. I have the best keyboard (Blade65) I could ask for, the best software (Obsidian), and I also have my dream notebook and pen (Traveller's notebook and Lamy CP1). But for some reason, I'm still looking; I still want that little bit better keyboard, journal, or whatever it might be. Why is it? Is it some form of procrastination, consumerism, or distraction?

Why do we always think there is a better, faster way of doing something, like a shortcut, cheat code, or hidden door?