3 Things I Learned Last Week #93 – Hard Work, Brain Rest, and the Joy of Imperfection

Welcome to the 93rd edition of “3 Things I Learned Last Week”! 🌟

Picture me as your personal knowledge scavenger, diving headfirst into the dumpster of information and emerging with shiny nuggets of wisdom. This newsletter is like a box of chocolates, but instead of calories, you get brain food. If you enjoy mental snacking, feel free to pass this newsletter around like a plate of hors d’oeuvres at a fancy party!

Here’s this week’s menu of mind-blowing morsels:

1. When Success Isn’t Enough: The Paradox of Optimization (Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Couch)
2. What Your Brain Is Really Doing When You’re Doing ‘Nothing’ (Spoiler: It’s Not Netflix and Chill)
3. How To Force Your Brain To DO Hard Things (Lotus Method) (No, it’s not threatening your brain with a tiny sword)

Let’s dive in like it’s a pool filled with knowledge instead of water!

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🤔 When Success Isn’t Enough: The Paradox of Optimization

Ever feel like you’re on a hamster wheel of success, running faster and faster but going nowhere? Welcome to the paradox of optimization, where the constant pursuit of efficiency might just be your ticket to Unhappyville, population: You.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Constant optimization is like trying to squeeze juice from a rock – eventually, you’ll just end up with sore hands and a grumpy disposition.
• Society’s obsession with productivity is like a gym membership – it makes you feel guilty even when you’re not using it.
• True fulfillment is finding joy in the journey, not just the destination. It’s like enjoying the flight, even if the in-flight movie sucks.

🎥 Watch this video to learn why sometimes, good enough is… well, good enough.

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🧠 What Your Brain Is Really Doing When You’re Doing ‘Nothing’

Turns out, your brain doesn’t believe in vacation days. Even when you think you’re doing nothing, your grey matter is throwing a party called the Default Mode Network (DMN). No, it’s not a new social media platform.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• The DMN is like your brain’s backstage crew, always working even when the main show (you) is taking a break.
• This network is the screenwriter of your life, crafting your internal narrative. It’s like having a personal Netflix series running 24/7 in your head.
• Understanding the DMN could be the key to unlocking the mysteries of your mind. It’s like finding the user manual for your brain that you didn’t know existed.

🎥 Peek behind the curtain of your mind’s theater here.

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💪 How To Force Your Brain To DO Hard Things (Lotus Method)

Introducing the Lotus Method: It’s like yoga for your willpower, minus the awkward poses and sweaty mats.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Step 1: Acknowledge your brain’s resistance. It’s like negotiating with a toddler – first, you gotta validate their feelings.
• Meditation isn’t just for monks anymore. It’s the secret sauce for a calm mind and inner strength. Think of it as a gym for your attention span.
• Take on challenges like you’re eating an elephant: one bite at a time. (Disclaimer: Please don’t actually eat elephants.)

🎥 Unlock your brain’s hidden superpowers here. No cape required.

That’s all for this edition of “3 Things I Learned Last Week.” Hope these nuggets of knowledge make your brain feel as satisfied as your stomach after a Thanksgiving feast!

Don’t let FOMO win – if you’re not subscribed yet, hop on this knowledge train before it leaves the station!

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May your week be filled with more “Aha!” moments than “D’oh!” moments!

Yours in perpetual curiosity,

~ Nathan

P.S. If you enjoyed this newsletter, share it faster than you can say “Default Mode Network” three times fast!